3:35 Worcester
This Class 4 maiden hurdle division at Worcester over 2m on good ground brings together a field of 13, the majority of whom arrive with limited experience and several unproven on the surface. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Taranis Dubh on 54, with four others within three points and the remainder trailing off modestly from 48 downwards. Overall the numbers point to an ordinary contest where light-raced types with placed form or promising connections hold the edge, though the strong pace anticipated will test stamina late on.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is expected with at least two habitual front-runners present, notably Equi Libre and Silver Whisper, both of whom tend to make the running or race prominently. Wannabe Sporty is likely to race handily just behind them while the bulk of the field, including the top three in the KTB Fit order, prefer to settle in mid-division or be held up. This shape suggests the race could collapse late, posing the key question of which hold-up performers can pick up the pieces when the leaders tire in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Taranis Dubh KTB Selection54/100
Taranis Dubh arrives as the KTB Selection with a Fit rating of 54. Lightly raced with just two runs in the last year, he showed a win on debut then a solid second last time out. He has already placed at this trip and the yard and jockey both hold strong records at Worcester, the trainer striking at 23% with an A/E of 0.99 from 162 runs while Sean Bowen posts 22% with an A/E of 1.09 from 456 rides. First-time headgear is now fitted and although the small sample means the going remains an unknown he has been placed on good ground on both starts to date. His ability and the yard's local record make him the one to beat in what looks an ordinary maiden.
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2Mags Ocean52/100
Mags Ocean is rated 52 on KTB Fit and showed some promise when third on debut over this trip. He looks open to improvement though the small sample means there is little else to go on and the going remains an unknown with no runs on good. Dan Skelton has a solid 17% strike-rate at Worcester with an A/E of 0.77 from 409 runs while Jack Andrews posts an above-average 21% here from a smaller sample of 29 rides with an A/E of 1.56. Stepping up in class having raced only once, he is the type to progress but will need to settle well from his usual hold-up position in a race likely to be strongly run.
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3Mister Coko51/100
Mister Coko is a lightly raced 4-year-old rated 51 on KTB Fit with just two runs behind him, both at this trip, and neither showing much. He is stepping up in class and remains unproven on good ground with no runs on the surface. The yard has a solid 19% strike rate at Worcester from 37 runs with an A/E of 1.09 while Sam Twiston-Davies is a regular here with a 17% record from over 700 rides and an A/E of 0.91. Usually held up, he will be suited by the strong pace expected but with so little to go on overall this one remains hard to assess with any certainty.
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4Mr Maximillian51/100
Mr Maximillian is rated 51 on KTB Fit and has shown only modest form in two starts over this trip. He returns from a break in first-time headgear and has just one run on good ground without placing. Olly Murphy's yard has a solid 23% strike-rate at Worcester with an A/E of 0.99 from 162 runs while Gavin Sheehan is similarly effective here at 18% with an A/E of 1.09 from 255 rides. Usually held up with limited evidence, he will be suited by the anticipated strong pace but with so little to go on overall this one has to be treated with caution.
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5Tottie's Moon49/100
Tottie's Moon is rated 49 on KTB Fit and has shown only modest form in two starts, finishing fifth here last time without threatening. He has two runs on good without placing and his only previous visit to Worcester produced a fifth. The drop back to 2m is an unknown at this stage. Trainer Bowen has a solid 18% strike rate at Worcester with an A/E of 0.8 from 50 runs while jockey Dylan Johnston is operating at a useful 31% here with an A/E of 1.42 from 16 rides. Usually held up, he could be helped by a strong pace but needs to improve on what has been seen so far.
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6King's Affinity48/100
King's Affinity is a newcomer by Affinisea from Harry Derham rated 48 on KTB Fit. A half-brother to useful bumper winner and hurdler King's Caprice and bought for £42,000 at the sales, he has only pedigree and connections to go on. The yard has a solid 17% strike rate at Worcester from a small sample with an A/E of 0.68 while Paul O'Brien holds a fair 14% record here from 63 rides with an A/E of 1.1.
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7Jimmy Jazz46/100
Jimmy Jazz is a newcomer by Jack Hobbs from Dan Skelton rated 46 on KTB Fit. He brings a solid pedigree and was sold for a useful sum as a prospect. The yard's 17% strike rate at Worcester from 409 runs is respectable though the A/E of 0.77 shows they do not overperform here. Kielan Woods also rides at a 17% strike rate on the track with a positive A/E of 1.1 from 230 rides.
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8Sheezer Dancer46/100
Sheezer Dancer is rated 46 on KTB Fit and has shown steady rather than sparkling ability in three completed starts, finishing third over this trip on one occasion without ever looking like winning. Usually held up, he is placed on good ground and remains open to improvement but needs to step up on what has been seen so far. The yard and jockey both have solid Worcester records with strike rates of 17% and 20% respectively.
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9Eustace Grenier46/100
Eustace Grenier is rated 46 on KTB Fit and has shown fair consistency in four completed starts over hurdles, finishing in the frame each time including a placed effort at today's trip. Worcester form is modest with a fourth on his only visit and he is placed on good ground. Trainer Olly Murphy's solid 23% record at the track with an A/E of 0.99 is the main positive though the jockey's poor 3% strike-rate here from 35 rides with an A/E of 0.32 adds little confidence.
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10Equi Libre45/100
Equi Libre is rated 45 on KTB Fit and showed minor promise when third on debut over this trip at Warwick but was then well held in a stronger race. The drop back to 2m looks sensible and first-time headgear is now fitted, yet the small sample means any judgement on his true level remains tentative with no runs on good. Dan Skelton has a solid 17% strike rate here from a large sample while Charlie Todd's 8% from 61 rides with an A/E of 0.8 is more modest. He tends to make the running.
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11Wannabe Sporty44/100
Wannabe Sporty is rated 44 on KTB Fit and showed little on her only start when seventh over this trip here. She is stepping up in class with one run on good without placing. The yard has a modest 10% strike rate from 320 runs at Worcester with an A/E of 0.8 while the jockey is operating at 5% from 297 rides with an A/E of 0.73. Usually prominent, she must be treated with real caution with just one run on the board overall.
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12Funny Hunny42/100
Funny Hunny is a debutant by Affinisea rated 42 on KTB Fit whose assessment rests entirely on pedigree and the yard's solid record. Dan Skelton operates at a 17% strike rate from 409 runs here, which is respectable even if the A/E of 0.77 hints at slight underperformance. Harry Atkins has yet to score from his eight Worcester rides with an A/E of 0.
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13Silver Whisper39/100
Silver Whisper is rated 39 on KTB Fit and has shown fair placed form on two of her last three starts while remaining lightly raced with scope to improve. She drops back to an untried 2m today which asks a fresh question and is placed on good ground. The trainer has only a small sample at Worcester with a 0% strike rate from 4 runs while the jockey's modest 3% strike rate from 218 rides with an A/E of 0.37 is a negative. She tends to make the running.
KTB verdict
Taranis Dubh stands out as the KTB Selection. Lightly raced with a win and a solid second to his name, he has already shown placed form at this trip on good ground and benefits from the strong Worcester records of both Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen. First-time headgear may sharpen him further in a race where the strong pace is likely to find out several of his rivals late. The main dangers are Mags Ocean, who showed promise on debut and can improve for Dan Skelton, and Mister Coko, whose yard and jockey know the track well even if his form is modest so far. Mr Maximillian and Tottie's Moon add further depth but both need to raise their game.
KTB Selection Taranis Dubh
This is the narrative read of the 3:35 Worcester. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Worcester racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Worcester results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Equi Libre and Silver Whisper both tend to make the running or race on the pace, with Wannabe Sporty likely to race prominently just behind.
How many runners are making their hurdling debut?
King's Affinity, Jimmy Jazz and Funny Hunny are all newcomers to hurdling.
Which jockey has the strongest Worcester strike rate in the field?
Dylan Johnston has a 31% strike rate at Worcester from 16 rides with an A/E of 1.42.
Who is unproven on good ground?
Mags Ocean, Mister Coko, Equi Libre and several others have no runs on good with the going remaining an unknown for them.
Which horse has the most placed form over hurdles?
Eustace Grenier has finished in the frame in each of his four completed starts over hurdles.
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