3:55 Beverley
This Class 5 handicap over the minimum trip at Beverley on soft ground features a field of 15 modest performers, several with placed form but few that look ahead of their mark after extensive racing. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Holbache, Military Girl and Miss Brazen separated by just two points, underlining how little separates the principals on the numbers. A strong pace is anticipated, which sets up an interesting test for hold-up types in what could become a race where late closers capitalise if the leaders fold.
How the race shapes up
With two or more confirmed front-runners in the field and the pace shape assessed as strong with high confidence, the early gallop is expected to be genuine. Managing Director and Ice Cold Alex both tend to race prominently, which should ensure a solid tempo that could leave the leaders vulnerable late on. This shape therefore poses the key question of whether any of the numerous hold-up performers can weave their way through to capitalise on the likely collapse up front.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Holbache KTB Selection55/100
Holbache is a modest performer who has won four times over today's trip yet now looks exposed after a total of 50 runs. He has been placed just once from six starts on soft ground and finished eighth of 11 on his only previous visit to Beverley. The Julie Camacho yard posts a solid 15% strike rate at the track from 259 runs, while the 5 lb claimer Tom Kiely-Marshall is operating at 10% here from 42 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the strong pace that is forecast. His recent form of 3-7158 is ordinary, but the selection arrives with the highest KTB Fit rating of 55 in a race where the top handful are closely matched.
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2Military Girl54/100
Military Girl is a modest performer who has been in decent form this year, recording two wins from her last five starts. She has won at this trip although she has shown little on soft ground in two previous attempts. Trainer Michael Dods holds an 11% strike rate at Beverley from 554 runs, while jockey Connor Beasley is 13% from 337 rides at the track. Usually held up and producing her effort late with high confidence, she is well placed to benefit if the strong pace collapses. This is her first run at Beverley and her recent form of -31125 suggests she remains competitive at this level.
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3Miss Brazen53/100
Miss Brazen is a modest performer who has won once from seven starts at Beverley and also possesses a win on soft ground from three attempts. She has won four times at this trip overall, though her recent form has been patchy. Drawn wide in stall 14, she will need to overcome that disadvantage, yet the Easterby yard posts a solid 14% strike rate at the track from 237 runs. Usually held up with medium confidence, she should appreciate the strong pace that is likely. Her course-and-distance record and ability to handle the ground make her a definite player.
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4Qila53/100
Qila is a modest performer who has shown consistent placed form this year without managing to win. She has been placed on her only visit to Beverley and has finished placed twice at this trip. The Brian Ellison yard records a 9% strike rate here from a large sample of 575 runs, while jockey M. P. Sheehy is 14% from just seven rides at Beverley. Usually held up and producing her effort late with high confidence, she is another who should be favoured by the strong pace shape. Unproven on soft ground, that remains the chief question mark against her.
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5Managing Director50/100
Managing Director is a modest performer who has shown bits of form at Beverley, finishing third on his most recent visit. He has won over today's trip, though his record on soft ground is limited to a single unplaced run. Dropping in class is a positive, yet the Geoff Oldroyd yard's modest 5% strike rate at the track from 154 runs adds little encouragement from his wide draw in stall 12. A habitual front-runner with high confidence, he is sure to be prominent early in what is forecast to be a strong pace. His placed efforts here suggest he cannot be entirely ruled out.
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6Daizen50/100
Daizen is a modest performer who has been up and down this year with a win and two placed efforts on soft ground from four starts. Dropping back to 5f having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at the trip, he makes his first appearance at Beverley. The yard posts a 9% strike rate here from 75 runs.
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7Tees Aggregates49/100
Tees Aggregates is a modest performer who has won once from three starts at Beverley and is four from 27 at this trip overall. Recent form has been patchy with a string of poor efforts after a solid spell earlier in the year. The yard holds a respectable 12% strike rate here from 69 runs, though he has shown little on soft ground in one previous attempt.
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8Ventura Express47/100
Ventura Express is a modest performer who has won twice at Beverley from six starts and also has four wins at this trip from 39 attempts. Recent form of 544645 shows consistent but limited ability without landing a blow lately. The yard records a 9% strike rate here from 689 runs while he is 0-2 on soft ground.
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9Empress Olivia45/100
Empress Olivia is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a recent string of poor efforts. She has run only once at Beverley and once on soft ground without showing much on either occasion, though she has placed once at this trip. The yard holds a solid 13% strike rate here from a large sample.
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10Tiriac43/100
Tiriac is a modest performer who has been out of the frame in all six runs this year. He has some course experience here without ever looking dangerous and has placed twice from nine starts on soft ground. The trip suits and the yard knows the track well enough.
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11Great43/100
Great is a modest performer who has won once at this trip but is dropping back from 6f today. Only a modest fifth on his one visit to Beverley and he has never tackled soft ground so that side of things remains unproven. The yard strikes at 14% here from 28 runs.
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12Simba's Pride43/100
Simba's Pride is a modest performer who has shown bits of form this year but has been largely exposed after 11 runs. He has run once at Beverley and finished seventh, while the yard records an 11% strike rate here from a big sample. Unproven on soft ground and he is now 0-5 at this trip.
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13Ice Cold Alex43/100
Ice Cold Alex is a modest performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and finished well beaten on his last two outings. He has run twice here without placing and his sole soft-ground effort was unconvincing, though he has won over today's 5f trip. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard's modest 8% strike rate at Beverley offers no particular encouragement.
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14Harb41/100
Harb is a modest performer with a solid career tally of six wins over this trip from 38 starts. He has shown bits of form this year but his recent efforts have been patchy and he has never run here before. The trainer has a 20% strike rate at Beverley.
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15Dream Deal41/100
Dream Deal is a modest performer who has won once from two starts at Beverley and also has a win at this trip. Recent form of 122740 shows he can be competitive at this level on his day yet he has been below par on his last two outings. Only one run on soft ground so far brings some uncertainty about conditions.
KTB verdict
Holbache is the KTB Selection. A modest but honest performer with four wins at this trip, his late run-style is perfectly suited to the strong pace that is expected to unfold, and the Camacho yard's healthy record at Beverley provides further encouragement. While he has only been placed once from six starts on soft ground and looked exposed after 50 runs, the tightly packed Fit Scores at the head of the market mean he does not need to improve markedly to take this. The main dangers are Military Girl, who arrives in decent form with two wins from her last five starts, and Miss Brazen, who has already won at Beverley and on soft ground. Qila's consistency and Managing Director's early position add further depth to a competitive sprint.
KTB Selection Holbache
This is the narrative read of the 3:55 Beverley. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Beverley racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Beverley results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is best suited by the expected strong pace?
Holbache, as a habitual hold-up performer who produces his effort late with high confidence.
How many wins has Miss Brazen recorded at Beverley?
One win from seven starts at the track.
What is the trainer strike rate at Beverley for the yard of the selection?
15% strike rate at Beverley from 259 runs.
Which runners are likely to set the strong pace?
Managing Director and Ice Cold Alex, both of whom tend to make the running or race prominently.
Has Qila been placed at Beverley before?
Yes, she has been placed on her only visit to Beverley.
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