4:35 Worcester
This Class 5 handicap hurdle division at Worcester over 2m4f on good to soft ground brings together a field of ten where the official ratings are tightly bunched between 70 and 104. The KTB Fit scores highlight a competitive top half, with Roe And Co heading the numbers on 60, followed closely by Following Chapter, Lord of All Saints, Delta Blues Belle and Pounds At The Time all in the low-to-mid 50s. Overall the KTB assessments point to a race where previous course experience, a drop in class and proven ability at the trip should carry plenty of weight.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as muddling and tactical with medium confidence, as there is no obvious front-runner in the field. Several runners prefer to race prominently or in mid-division, which should see the race develop with a steady gallop rather than an end-to-end burn. Those ridden close to the pace are likely to be advantaged, and the key question will be which horse can produce the strongest finishing effort once the tempo lifts in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Roe And Co KTB Selection60/100
Roe And Co is a useful performer who ran well when third over this course and trip on his return from a break. He has a solid record on good to soft ground and has shown enough at this distance to suggest he can be competitive again. The eight-year-old typically settles in midfield and is dropping in class here. Shaun Lycett has a 12% strike rate at Worcester from 180 runs with an A/E of 1.12, while Kielan Woods brings an 18% strike rate at the track from 236 rides with an A/E of 1.14. The combination adds confidence to a horse who has already placed over course and distance.
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2Following Chapter57/100
Following Chapter is a useful performer who won over this trip at Worcester last season before a solid second here on his return. Dropping back from 2m7f looks a sensible move though he was well held when last seen in a stronger race. The six-year-old usually races prominently, on or close to the lead. Alastair Ralph has a 10% strike rate at Worcester from 186 runs with an A/E of 0.75, while Gavin Sheehan has an 18% strike rate at the track from 260 rides with an A/E of 1.08. Both trainer and jockey have solid Worcester records and the horse has scored on good to soft ground.
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3Lord of All Saints56/100
Lord of All Saints is a useful performer who showed little spark in four runs for this yard last season. He steps up in trip today having already won twice at 2m4f and has scored on good to soft ground. The six-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. Harriet Dickin has a 5% strike rate at Worcester from 22 runs with an A/E of 1.26, while James Best has a 5% strike rate at the track from 301 rides with an A/E of 0.73. The modest trainer strike rate is offset by the solid A/E figure, and the horse is dropping in class.
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4Delta Blues Belle53/100
Delta Blues Belle is a useful performer who showed her best when winning a similar race here over further in May before running poorly on her final start. She drops back in trip to a distance she has never tried which asks a fresh question. The six-year-old is usually held up and produces her effort late. Dan Skelton has a 17% strike rate at Worcester from 430 runs with an A/E of 0.79, while Harry Skelton has a 20% strike rate at the track from 405 rides with an A/E of 0.88. The Skelton team know the Worcester track well.
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5Pounds At The Time53/100
Pounds At The Time is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form in his last three completed starts. He steps up in trip today to 2m4f which asks a fresh question. The six-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. Toby Lawes has a 0% strike rate at Worcester from a small sample of 4 runs with an A/E of 0, while Kevin Brogan has an 11% strike rate at the track from 56 rides with an A/E of 0.79. The horse has been placed on both starts on good to soft ground and is dropping in class.
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6King Berry52/100
King Berry is a fair performer who has shown consistent ability in recent starts, finishing second last time out over this trip. He has placed at today's distance on his only attempt and holds solid course connections through his trainer's 10% strike rate at Worcester from 21 runs with an A/E of 1.05.
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7No Boundaries47/100
No Boundaries is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form in three runs over shorter trips. He steps up to 2m4f for the first time today which asks a fresh question. Mrs Jane Williams has a 0% strike rate at Worcester from 29 runs.
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8Wispit Twob47/100
Wispit Twob is a fair performer who has struggled to make an impact since switching to handicaps, with recent form of 60P-P8 showing little promise. He steps up in trip today to 2m4f for the first time while wearing first-time headgear, both fresh questions. Martin Keighley has a 10% strike rate at Worcester from 322 runs with an A/E of 0.8.
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9Cool Master41/100
Cool Master is a useful performer on the balance of ratings who has yet to translate that into a win after four starts. He drops back to 2m4f having failed to make the frame at the trip on all previous attempts. Both trainer and jockey operate at a 6% strike rate at Worcester.
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10Stopherandgo33/100
Stopherandgo is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time and arrives here with a string of poor efforts. He has shown ability on good to soft ground in the past but steps up in trip today having achieved little in five previous attempts at this distance. The trainer has only a small sample at Worcester.
KTB verdict
Roe And Co looks to have the strongest blend of course form, trip suitability and ground affinity in a race where the pace is expected to be tactical. His third over this course and distance on return from a break confirmed he retains plenty of ability, and the drop in class only strengthens his position. Following Chapter and Lord of All Saints are the most obvious dangers, with the former having winning form over the trip at Worcester and the latter stepping up in distance off a reduced mark, while Delta Blues Belle and Pounds At The Time add further depth to what should be a tightly contested affair.
KTB Selection Roe And Co
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:09 UTC, 21 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Roe And Co | 13/2 | William Hill |
| Following Chapter | 5/1 | William Hill |
| Lord of All Saints | 28/1 | Bet365 |
| Delta Blues Belle | 10/3 | William Hill |
| Pounds At The Time | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| King Berry | 7/2 | William Hill |
| No Boundaries | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Wispit Twob | 22/1 | Bet365 |
| Cool Master | 20/1 | BoyleSports |
| Stopherandgo | 50/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 4:35 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. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Worcester racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has already placed over the course and distance?
Roe And Co has course and distance form, having finished third here on his most recent start.
Which runners are dropping in class?
Roe And Co, Lord of All Saints and Pounds At The Time are all dropping in class, as is No Boundaries.
Who holds the strongest Worcester trainer and jockey combination on strike rate?
Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton hold the strongest Worcester records among the principals, with 17% and 20% strike rates respectively.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear?
Wispit Twob is wearing first-time headgear.
How many runners are stepping up in trip for the first time?
Lord of All Saints, Pounds At The Time, No Boundaries, Wispit Twob and Stopherandgo are all stepping up in trip.
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