4:25 Wolverhampton (AW)
This Class 6 handicap division at Wolverhampton over 1m142y on standard ground brings together an eleven-runner field of largely modest performers. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Sant Alessio heading the list on 63, followed closely by King of Charm and Asian Journey on 61. Several runners are dropping in class while others step up or down in trip, and with the official ratings ranging from 55 to 65 the race looks competitive on paper.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two confirmed front-runners in the field. Sant Alessio and Snaafy both tend to make the running or race prominently, while Yehudi, Alessia Fernanda and Ballybunion like to race handily. This shape raises the strong possibility of the pace collapsing in the straight, which would play into the hands of the hold-up performers such as Asian Journey, Battle Standard, Palliser and Book of Life.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Sant Alessio KTB Selection63/100
Sant Alessio is a modest performer who has won once from four runs at Wolverhampton and holds an official rating of 64. He drops back in trip today having last run over 1m1½f yet has already won at this distance on his only previous attempt. The trainer’s 10% strike rate here from 39 runs sits in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey’s 12% from 172 rides is similarly in line with his 10% at other tracks. As a front-runner he is sure to be prominent early in what is expected to be a strong pace, and his course win adds to his appeal. Recent form of -07484 is modest but the drop in class can only help.
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2King of Charm61/100
King of Charm is a limited performer who has shown his best at this track with one win from two runs. He steps back up to 1m having failed to score at the trip in two previous attempts and holds an official rating of 59 off recent form of 621780. The trainer records an 18% strike rate at Wolverhampton which is above their 8% elsewhere while the jockey is operating at 19% here. From a favourable draw in stall 1 he should settle comfortably in mid-division. Dropping in class looks a positive and his course record suggests he can be competitive.
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3Asian Journey61/100
Asian Journey is a modest performer who has won once from two starts at this track and also has a win at today's trip. Recent form of 451238 shows a mixed bag but the horse has placed on seven occasions from eleven runs on standard ground. Trainer and jockey both operate at strike rates in line with their records at other courses. His held-up style is well suited to the anticipated strong pace that could collapse late. With a course win already on his CV he enters the reckoning.
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4Alessia Fernanda58/100
Alessia Fernanda is a modest performer who has been largely consistent this year without winning. She drops back to a trip she has won at before while her record on standard ground reads a win and a placing from five starts. Trainer and jockey both operate at strike rates in line with their overall figures at Wolverhampton. Usually prominent, she will be handy to the strong pace. Though without a course record she remains capable of a bold showing from an official rating of 65.
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5Ballybunion55/100
Ballybunion is a modest performer who has shown bits of ability on the AW but is yet to win in ten starts. He has two modest efforts here without placing and steps up in trip today which is a fresh question. Trainer has an 18% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 736 runs which is above their 13% at other courses while the jockey is operating at a 16% strike rate here from 51 rides in line with their record elsewhere. Usually prominent, he will be on the pace early. His placed efforts on standard ground keep him in the mix.
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6Yehudi51/100
Yehudi is a modest performer who has run eight times here without winning yet has been placed on three occasions including a second. He steps up in trip today having last run over 7f and is 1 from 3 at this distance without a victory. Trainer has a 10% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 1,889 runs which is above their 7% at other courses while jockey records a 20% strike rate here from 838 rides which is also above their 16% elsewhere.
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7Fools Rush In50/100
Fools Rush In is a modest performer who has won three times from 14 starts at Wolverhampton and steps back up to a trip where he has two wins from eight runs. Recent form has been patchy but he did finish a close third here last time out. Trainer Ruth Carr has a 10% strike rate at the track while jockey William Pyle operates at 5%.
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8Snaafy50/100
Snaafy is a limited performer who has won once from four runs at Wolverhampton and also has a win at today's trip. Recent form has been modest and the wide draw in stall 11 of 11 is a fact to note. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 10% strike rate here which sits in line with their records at other tracks.
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9Battle Standard46/100
Battle Standard is a limited performer who showed little on his only previous visit to Wolverhampton when finishing ninth. He did manage to win on this surface last time out but steps up in trip today which remains an unknown. The dam has had 1 other runner, not a winner. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 16% strike rate here.
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10Palliser45/100
Palliser is a modest performer who has shown some promise on this track, finishing second here over today's trip on his penultimate start before a lesser effort last time. He is lightly raced with only four runs in the last year and the small sample makes his suitability for the standard going hard to pin down. Full brother to Nikovo (7 wins from 45 runs). The dam has had 5 other runners, 3 of them winners. The yard's 15% strike rate at Wolverhampton matches their record elsewhere while Morris is operating above his usual rate at the track.
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11Book of Life44/100
Book of Life is a limited performer who has won once from 14 starts at Wolverhampton and holds an official rating of 55. He steps back up to 1m having been placed at the trip without winning, and his recent form of 527324 shows steady but unspectacular efforts. Trainer Patrick Morris operates at a 7% strike rate here which is in line with his record elsewhere, while jockey Paddy Bradley posts a 13% strike rate at the track which is above his 8% at other courses.
KTB verdict
Sant Alessio looks the most solid option. A course winner who has already scored at this trip, he drops in class and his front-running style should see him ideally placed if the strong pace materialises as expected. His recent efforts have been modest yet the KTB Fit rating of 63 tops the field and the trainer-jockey combination is in line with their course records. Main dangers are King of Charm, who has shown his best form here, and Asian Journey, whose hold-up style could be perfectly suited if the leaders fold. Alessia Fernanda and Ballybunion are next in the pecking order on recent consistency.
KTB Selection Sant Alessio
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 1:35am, 23 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Sant Alessio | 16/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| King of Charm | 18/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Asian Journey | 25/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Alessia Fernanda | 33/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Ballybunion | 8/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Yehudi | 8/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Fools Rush In | 20/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
| Snaafy | 22/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Battle Standard | 5/6 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Palliser | 6/1 | Bet365, 1:02am |
| Book of Life | 16/1 | William Hill, 1:02am |
This is the narrative read of the 4:25 Wolverhampton (AW). For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wolverhampton (AW) racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Wolverhampton (AW) results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Wolverhampton (AW) racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is dropping back in trip from a longer distance?
Sant Alessio last ran over 1m1½f and drops back today having already won at this trip on his only previous attempt.
Who is the only horse with a course win at Wolverhampton in this field?
Sant Alessio has won here from four runs, while others such as King of Charm, Asian Journey, Fools Rush In and Snaafy also have course victories.
How does the strong pace shape affect the hold-up horses?
The strong pace with multiple front-runners could collapse late, favouring hold-up horses such as Asian Journey, Battle Standard, Palliser and Book of Life.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Wolverhampton among those represented?
Michael Bell has an 18% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 736 runs, matching Martin Dunne's 18% from 50 runs.
Which lightly-raced horse has the strongest family line noted?
Palliser is a full brother to Nikovo who has won 7 times from 45 runs, with the dam having produced 5 other runners of whom 3 were winners.
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