4:08 Plumpton
This Class 3 handicap hurdle at Plumpton over 1m7f195y on good ground features a compact but competitive field of six. The KTB Fit scores range from 72 down to 41, highlighting a clear tier of principals with strong recent form and course connections against a couple of more patchy performers. Eternal Angel heads the KTB rankings as the selection, while the overall numbers suggest a race where class and trip suitability will be decisive.
How the race shapes up
With a strong pace likely and at least two habitual front-runners present, the race is expected to be run at a solid clip that could cause the leaders to fold late. Eternal Angel, Edelak and Gower Prince are all inclined to race prominently, setting up a potential battle up front. This shape poses the key question of whether any of the pace-setters can maintain their effort or if the hold-up performers such as Zillow, Nap Hand and Mojito des Mottes will be favoured as the race collapses towards the finish.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Eternal Angel KTB Selection72/100
Eternal Angel is a high-class performer with strong recent form including two wins and two placings from his last five starts. He drops back to a trip he has won twice from five attempts while his record on good ground reads a win and four places from eight starts. Trainer Tom Lacey has a solid 26% strike rate at Plumpton from 31 runs though this is Eternal Angel's first run at the track. Stan Sheppard teams up with a trainer-jockey combination that shows 147 winners from 846 runners for a 17% strike rate and an A/E of 0.95. As a confirmed front-runner with high confidence in that run-style, he is likely to set the pace in a race where the strong tempo could test the leaders.
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2Zillow68/100
Zillow is a high-class performer on his day yet has been well below that level for some time, with a string of poor efforts including pulled up and well beaten on his last three starts. He drops back to a trip he has won at twice from seven attempts, which looks a plus, though he has shown no spark on good ground in three previous tries. The yard has no previous runners at Plumpton while this is the horse's first visit to the track. Harry Kimber takes the ride for a trainer-jockey partnership that is currently 0 from 7. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, Zillow could be suited if the strong pace collapses as anticipated.
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3Edelak66/100
Edelak is a high-class performer with a strong recent record of 111F11 and six wins from 13 starts. He drops back to a trip he has won twice from two attempts while showing solid form on good ground with three wins and a fourth from six runs. Trainer Dan Skelton has an 18% strike rate at Plumpton from 113 runs and teams up with Harry Skelton for a 22% record from 6328 runners with an A/E of 0.90. As a front-runner with high confidence in that run-style, Edelak is set to be prominent early in what is likely to be a strongly run affair.
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4Nap Hand63/100
Nap Hand is a smart performer who has been in good heart this season with two wins from his last four starts. He has placed here without winning in three runs and acts on good ground having scored once from eight attempts at this trip. Chris Gordon has a solid 18% strike rate at Plumpton from a large sample of 659 runs while Fern O'Brien is yet to ride a winner from only five rides here. Dropping in class and usually held up with high confidence in that run-style, he is well placed to benefit if the strong pace takes its toll on those up front.
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5Mojito des Mottes60/100
Mojito des Mottes is a high-class performer who showed real promise when winning a novice hurdle here last time after a poor run on debut for this yard. He drops back in trip having been placed without winning at this distance earlier in his career. Trainer Ben Pauling has a solid 15% strike rate at Plumpton from 39 runs while jockey Harry Cobden is equally effective here with a 28% strike rate. Usually held up, he steps up in class.
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6Gower Prince41/100
Gower Prince is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick with two wins from his last four starts. He drops back to a trip he has won at before though he has been running over further lately and the yard has only a small sample to work from at Plumpton with a 0% strike rate from three runs. Going form is solid enough with two wins from 17 starts on good ground. A front-runner, he lines up for the Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill yard.
KTB verdict
Eternal Angel stands out as the KTB Selection. He brings high-class form with two wins and two placings from his last five starts, drops back to a trip he has won twice at, and boasts a strong record on good ground. His prominent run-style fits the shape, and the trainer-jockey combination has proven effective at Plumpton. The main dangers are Edelak, who has an excellent recent record and loves the trip, and Nap Hand, who is in good heart, has placed here before, and could capitalise if the strong pace collapses late.
KTB Selection Eternal Angel
This is the narrative read of the 4:08 Plumpton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Plumpton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Plumpton results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest recent form figures among the principals?
Edelak with 111F11.
How many wins has Eternal Angel recorded at trips around 2m?
Two wins from five attempts.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Plumpton among those represented?
Tom Lacey with 26% from 31 runs.
What is the course record for Nap Hand at Plumpton?
8th, 4th, 2nd from three runs, placed once but no win.
Which runner is stepping up in class from a recent win at this track?
Mojito des Mottes.
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