3:35 York
A maximum-field Class 2 sprint handicap over six furlongs at York on good ground brings together 22 three-year-olds, many of whom are stepping up or dropping in class. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Five Ways just heading Chicago Pope on 65 and 64 respectively, while several others sit in the low-to-mid 50s, suggesting a race where both handicap ratings and course form will play major parts. Recent form is mixed, with some progressive sorts and others needing to bounce back, and the lack of course experience for a number of runners adds another layer of uncertainty to the contest.
How the race shapes up
With a large field and plenty of speed on show, the pace shape looks strongly on the pace side, with several prominent runners and a few confirmed front-runners likely to contest the lead early. Five Ways from stall 17 and Boston Dan drawn 21 are among those who should be handy, while lower-drawn horses such as First Time, Super Soldier and Golden Brown may also push forward. The key question is whether the pace holds up or collapses in the closing stages, with those positioned to strike from midfield or make a late move potentially advantaged if the leaders go too hard.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Five Ways KTB Selection65/100
- 2Chicago Pope64/100
- 3Boston Dan60/100
- 4Super Soldier59/100
- 5Silent Strike58/100
- 6Postmodern56/100
- 7First Time54/100
- 8Cape Ashizuri53/100
- 9First Legion52/100
- 10Man Of Vision52/100
- 11Advertised51/100
- 12Red Spells Danger50/100
- 13Underwriter49/100
- 14Kind Touch49/100
- 15Ruby's Angel48/100
- 16Go Vince Go48/100
- 17Fortification47/100
- 18Thunder Call47/100
- 19Reciprocated46/100
- 20Alaminos46/100
- 21Back To Me41/100
- 22Golden Brown40/100
The contenders
Five Ways KTB Fit 65/100
Five Ways is the KTB Selection and tops the Fit ratings on 65. A three-year-old with recent form figures of 114-75, he is dropping in class here having shown ability in stronger company. Trained by Andrew Balding, who has a 13% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.03 from 482 runs, he is ridden by Jason Watson whose own York figures read 9% with an A/E of 1.03 from 112 rides. He has limited experience on good ground with just one run and no win or place, and has no previous course form, yet the yard's record and his placement in the handicap make him the one to beat according to the numbers.
Chicago Pope KTB Fit 64/100
Chicago Pope sits second in the KTB Fit ratings on 64 and arrives with progressive recent form of 501-21. The three-year-old is trained by J P Murtagh, who has an excellent 15% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.67 from just 13 runs, and is partnered by Connor Beasley who has a 10% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.06 from 253 rides. He has shown he handles good ground with one win and two places from three starts, though he has no course form on record. His upward trajectory suggests he will be a major player if he continues to improve.
Boston Dan KTB Fit 60/100
Boston Dan is rated 60 on KTB Fit and has course experience that few of his rivals can match. His recent form reads 027-90 but he is dropping in class and has placed twice at York from three starts here, finishing second on both occasions. Trained by Richard & Peter Fahey, who have an 11% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.79 from 19 runs, he is ridden by Oisin Orr whose York figures are 6% with an A/E of 0.63 from 174 rides. He has been competitive on good ground without winning, and his placed efforts over this course suggest he could be suited by the track and the drop in grade.
Super Soldier KTB Fit 59/100
Super Soldier has a KTB Fit of 59 and is another dropping in class. His recent form is 2794-0, showing he has been mixing it at a higher level without recent success. Trained by K R Burke, who has a 9% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.92 from 636 runs, he is ridden by Clifford Lee with a 12% strike rate and A/E of 1.06 from 206 rides at the track. He has had two runs on good ground without placing and has no course form, but the class drop could help him return to form if the race sets up for a midfield runner.
Silent Strike KTB Fit 58/100
Silent Strike is rated 58 on KTB Fit and sports first-time headgear as he attempts to bounce back. His form reads 2120, showing ability but also inconsistency. From the Andrew Balding yard, which has a 13% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.03 from 482 runs, he is ridden by Oisin McSweeney who has a 9% strike rate and A/E of 1.34 from 34 rides at the track. He has no experience of good ground and no course form, leaving him with questions to answer on both the surface and at York, though the headgear may help him settle better.
The rest of the field
PostmodernKTB Fit 56/100
Postmodern has a KTB Fit of 56 and recent form of 10-732. Trained by Hamad Al Jehani, who has a 0% strike rate at York from five runs with an A/E of 0, he is ridden by James Doyle with a 14% strike rate and A/E of 1.03 from 307 rides at the track. He has been competitive on good ground with two places from three starts and has no course form.
First TimeKTB Fit 54/100
First Time is rated 54 on KTB Fit with form 2212-0. He is stepping up in class for Richard & Peter Fahey, who have an 11% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.79 from 19 runs, and is ridden by Barry McHugh whose York figures are 4% with an A/E of 0.6 from 250 rides. He has been competitive on good ground and has one run at the track which resulted in an 11th-place finish.
Cape AshizuriKTB Fit 53/100
Cape Ashizuri has a KTB Fit of 53 and recent form 152-1. Stepping up in class for John & Sean Quinn, who have a 15% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.37 from 39 runs, he is ridden by Jason Hart with a 9% strike rate and A/E of 0.92 from 338 rides at the track. He has a win and two places from three starts on good ground but no course form.
First LegionKTB Fit 52/100
First Legion is rated 52 on KTB Fit with form 3-6454. Stepping up in class for Richard Hannon, who has an 11% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.98 from 340 runs, he is ridden by Shane Foley with an 11% strike rate and A/E of 0.79 from 28 rides at the track. He has been competitive on good ground and has won here from three starts at York.
Man Of VisionKTB Fit 52/100
Man Of Vision has a KTB Fit of 52 and form 251-2. Trained by Charlie Appleby, who has a 17% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.9 from 163 runs, he is ridden by William Buick with a 15% strike rate and A/E of 1.01 from 450 rides at the track. He has had one run on good ground without placing and has no course form.
AdvertisedKTB Fit 51/100
Advertised is rated 51 on KTB Fit with form 014-29. Trained by Grant Tuer, who has an 8% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.05 from 112 runs, he is ridden by Oliver Stammers with a 3% strike rate and A/E of 0.36 from 37 rides at the track. He has been competitive on good ground and finished fourth on his only start at York.
Red Spells DangerKTB Fit 50/100
Red Spells Danger has a KTB Fit of 50 and progressive recent form of 6-2211. Stepping up in class for Tim Easterby, who has a 6% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.76 from 2046 runs, he is ridden by David Allan with a 7% strike rate and A/E of 0.81 from 889 rides at the track. He has two wins from five starts on good ground and has placed once from three runs at York.
UnderwriterKTB Fit 49/100
Underwriter is rated 49 on KTB Fit with form 0189-8. Trained by Archie Watson, who has an 8% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.72 from 71 runs, he is ridden by Cieren Fallon with a 12% strike rate and A/E of 0.89 from 74 rides at the track. He has a win and a place from three starts on good ground but no course form.
Kind TouchKTB Fit 49/100
Kind Touch has a KTB Fit of 49 and form 12-3. Stepping up in class for Richard & Peter Fahey, who have an 11% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.79 from 19 runs, he is ridden by Cam Hardie with a 3% strike rate and A/E of 0.52 from 268 rides at the track. He has had one run on good ground without placing and has no course form.
Ruby's AngelKTB Fit 48/100
Ruby's Angel is rated 48 on KTB Fit with form 414-21. Stepping up in class for Hugo Palmer, who has a 6% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.6 from 142 runs, he is ridden by William Pyle with a 4% strike rate and A/E of 0.52 from 51 rides at the track. He has a win and three places from three starts on good ground and has won on his only previous start at York.
Go Vince GoKTB Fit 48/100
Go Vince Go has a KTB Fit of 48 and form 5-8438. Stepping up in class for Tim Easterby, who has a 6% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.76 from 2046 runs, he is ridden by James Sullivan with a 6% strike rate and A/E of 0.97 from 291 rides at the track. He has a win and two places from five starts on good ground and has won once from two starts at York.
FortificationKTB Fit 47/100
Fortification is rated 47 on KTB Fit with form -32414. Trained by Brian Ellison, who has a 6% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.81 from 496 runs, he is ridden by Joanna Mason with a 5% strike rate and A/E of 0.57 from 110 rides at the track. He has a win and three places from three starts on good ground and has won once from two starts at York.
Thunder CallKTB Fit 47/100
Thunder Call has a KTB Fit of 47 and form 02-1. Stepping up in class for William Haggas, who has a 17% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.01 from 755 runs, he is ridden by Zac Lloyd who has a 0% strike rate from two rides at the track. He has had one run on good ground without placing and has no course form.
ReciprocatedKTB Fit 46/100
Reciprocated is rated 46 on KTB Fit with form 665-30. Trained by K R Burke, who has a 9% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.92 from 636 runs, he is ridden by Jack Nicholls who has a 0% strike rate from 24 rides at the track. He has a win and a place from four starts on good ground and finished sixth on his only run at York.
AlaminosKTB Fit 46/100
Alaminos has a KTB Fit of 46 and form 14-27. Stepping up in class for Kevin Ryan, who has an 8% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.85 from 1196 runs, he is ridden by Alex Jary who has a 4% strike rate and A/E of 0.69 from 24 rides at the track. He has been competitive on good ground with one place from three starts and has no course form.
Back To MeKTB Fit 41/100
Back To Me is rated 41 on KTB Fit with form 01-162. Stepping up in class for Ben Haslam, who has a 4% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.46 from 55 runs, he is ridden by Andrew Mullen with a 3% strike rate and A/E of 0.55 from 249 rides at the track. He has no experience of good ground and no course form.
Golden BrownKTB Fit 40/100
Golden Brown has a KTB Fit of 40 and form 602-21. Stepping up in class for Ed Walker, who has a 9% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.85 from 158 runs, he is ridden by Lauren Young who has a 0% strike rate from 14 rides at the track. He has won his only start on good ground and finished sixth on his only run at York.
KTB verdict
Five Ways is the KTB Selection and is just preferred on the numbers in a race where the tightly packed Fit ratings make for a competitive affair. His drop in class and the solid York record of both trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Jason Watson give him a clear chance if he handles the good ground. The main dangers are headed by Chicago Pope, whose progressive profile and strong trainer track record make him a serious threat, while Boston Dan's course placings cannot be ignored. Super Soldier and Silent Strike add further depth to what looks a typically tricky York sprint handicap.
KTB Selection Five Ways
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:02 UTC, 13 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Five Ways | 25/1 | William Hill |
| Chicago Pope | 10/1 | William Hill |
| Boston Dan | 66/1 | William Hill |
| Super Soldier | 50/1 | William Hill |
| Silent Strike | 33/1 | William Hill |
| Postmodern | 9/1 | William Hill |
| First Time | 50/1 | 7Bet |
| Cape Ashizuri | 12/1 | William Hill |
| First Legion | 20/1 | William Hill |
| Man Of Vision | 17/2 | William Hill |
| Advertised | 12/1 | William Hill |
| Red Spells Danger | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Underwriter | 66/1 | William Hill |
| Kind Touch | 28/1 | William Hill |
| Ruby's Angel | 20/1 | William Hill |
| Go Vince Go | 35/1 | 7Bet |
| Fortification | 9/1 | William Hill |
| Thunder Call | 11/2 | William Hill |
| Reciprocated | 33/1 | William Hill |
| Alaminos | 20/1 | William Hill |
| Back To Me | 66/1 | William Hill |
| Golden Brown | 18/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 3:35 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the best York trainer record among the principals?
Chicago Pope's trainer J P Murtagh has a 15% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.67 from 13 runs.
How many principals are dropping in class?
Three of the five principals – Five Ways, Boston Dan and Super Soldier – are dropping in class.
Which horse has course placings at York but is yet to win there?
Boston Dan has finished 10th, 2nd and 2nd in three runs at York.
Who is the only principal wearing headgear?
Silent Strike is wearing first-time headgear.
Which horse has won both on good ground and at this course?
Ruby's Angel has a win from three starts on good ground and has won on his only previous start at York, though he is not among the principals.
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