4:42 Thirsk
This Class 5 handicap over the minimum trip at Thirsk on good ground brings together ten modest performers, several with previous experience at the track. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Le Beau Garcon and Spendmore Lane sharing a 59 rating, followed by King's Crown on 55, Emerald Harmony on 53 and Beaumadier on 51. Recent form is mixed, though a number hold sound place records on good ground or at this venue, setting up a competitive sprint where course knowledge and adaptability to the surface could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a contested lead with several runners who like to go forward. Military Girl and Spendmore Lane are both prominent types, while Le Beau Garcon and Khabib have also shown a preference for racing up with the pace. King's Crown tends to settle in mid-division. The key question is whether the early speed can be sustained over the stiff Thirsk five furlongs on good ground, or whether those coming from slightly further back will be able to pick up the pieces in the final furlong.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Le Beau Garcon59/100Modest performer who has won once from four starts at Thirsk and holds a solid 4-26 record at this trip.
- 2Spendmore Lane KTB Selection59/100Modest performer who has been busy this year and holds his form reasonably well with three wins from 15 starts at this trip.
- 3King's Crown55/100King's Crown is a modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning of late, as shown by his string of mid-field finishes.
- 4Emerald Harmony53/100Modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning.
- 5Beaumadier51/100Beaumadier is a modest performer who has run 42 times in the last year and showed his best effort here when second over this trip on his only visit to Thirsk.
- 6Military Girl51/100Modest performer who has won 1 from 2 here and 4 from 13 at this trip overall.
- 7Marajito49/100Modest performer who showed a bit more when winning a similar race at Catterick last time.
- 8Hover On The Wind44/100Modest performer who has been below form this year with a string of unplaced efforts.
- 9Pal Joey43/100Pal Joey is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts.
- 10Khabib35/100Modest performer who has been placed three times from five runs at Thirsk without winning.
The contenders
Le Beau Garcon KTB Fit 59/100
Le Beau Garcon is a modest performer who has won once from four starts at Thirsk and holds a solid 4-26 record at this trip. He has been placed five times from nine runs on good ground without winning, so he stays competitive at this level but lacks real punch. The Michael and David Easterby yard operates at a 9% strike rate here from a decent-sized sample, while Joanna Mason also rides at a 9% strike rate at the track. His recent form of 020-45 shows he remains in the mix without landing a blow of late, and from draw 6 he should be able to secure a decent early position.
Spendmore Lane KTB Fit 59/100
Spendmore Lane is the KTB selection, a modest performer who has been busy this year and holds his form reasonably well with three wins from 15 starts at this trip. He has never won or placed on good ground from three attempts and makes his first appearance at Thirsk today. The David Loughnane yard has a 10% strike rate at the track, while William Pyle rides at a 12% strike rate here. Recent form of 137133 underlines his consistency in similar company, and although the surface is unproven he is taken to handle conditions well enough from his wide draw.
King's Crown KTB Fit 55/100
King's Crown is a modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning of late, as shown by his string of mid-field finishes. He has won over this trip and at Thirsk itself, though his record on good ground is modest with just one success from six starts. The Michael Dods yard has a solid 10% strike-rate at the track while Sean Kirrane operates at 9%. His recent form of 556653 reflects a horse who keeps plugging away in this grade, and from draw 8 he is likely to be settled in mid-division early.
Emerald Harmony KTB Fit 53/100
Emerald Harmony is a modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning. He has only one run at Thirsk and it was poor, while his record on good ground is just one win from 13 starts. The Paul Midgley yard and David Nolan both have below-average records at the track from large samples. Dropping in class may help, and his form of -27303 suggests he remains capable of a respectable effort if he can improve on that earlier Thirsk showing from draw 4.
Beaumadier KTB Fit 51/100
Beaumadier is a modest performer who has run 42 times in the last year and showed his best effort here when second over this trip on his only visit to Thirsk. He has a solid record at today's distance with four wins from 33 starts and acts on good ground having won once and placed four times from six attempts. The Mark Loughnane yard's modest 3% strike rate from 29 runs at the track is a concern while the 7 lb claimer Hope Regan has yet to ride a winner here. His recent form of 451474 indicates he can still be competitive when things fall right, and the drop in class is a positive.
The rest of the field
Military GirlKTB Fit 51/100
Military Girl is a modest performer who has won 1 from 2 here and 4 from 13 at this trip overall. Recent form of 44-311 shows she is in decent heart and the good ground looks fine given her record on it. The Michael Dods yard and Connor Beasley both sit on 10% strike rates at Thirsk from large samples.
MarajitoKTB Fit 49/100
Marajito is a modest performer who showed a bit more when winning a similar race at Catterick last time. He has posted two ordinary efforts here without placing and the Tim Easterby yard's modest record at the track offers little encouragement. Trip and ground look fine on the figures.
Hover On The WindKTB Fit 44/100
Hover On The Wind is a modest performer who has been below form this year with a string of unplaced efforts. He has run respectably in both starts at Thirsk without threatening to win and holds a similar level on good ground where his record is just 1-6. Trip is fine and the Paul Midgley yard and Mark Winn both have established records at the track though neither sets the pulse racing.
Pal JoeyKTB Fit 43/100
Pal Joey is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He has won over this trip but only once from four starts and his record on good ground reads just one win from eight runs. The Ben Haslam yard and Ben Robinson both have modest records at Thirsk and this horse was well beaten when he tried the track once before.
KhabibKTB Fit 35/100
Khabib is a modest performer who has been placed three times from five runs at Thirsk without winning. He drops back to his winning 5f trip today having last run over 6f and he has shown competitive form on good ground. The David Thompson yard's modest record here and the jockey's limited sample offer little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Spendmore Lane is the KTB selection in a race where several runners hold claims but few are in top form. He has been holding his form well with three wins from 15 starts at this trip and the trainer and jockey both have solid records at Thirsk. The lack of experience on good ground and at the track are the main unknowns, yet his consistency gives him the edge. Le Beau Garcon and King's Crown, both previous winners here, are the most obvious dangers if the surface suits, while Military Girl cannot be dismissed given her course record and recent progress.
KTB Selection Spendmore Lane
This is the narrative read of the 4:42 Thirsk. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Thirsk racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses have previous winning form at Thirsk?
Le Beau Garcon, King's Crown and Military Girl have all won at Thirsk.
Which runners have never won on good ground?
Le Beau Garcon, Spendmore Lane, Khabib and Pal Joey have never won on good ground.
Who has the best recent course form at Thirsk over this trip?
Beaumadier has the best recent course form at Thirsk over this trip, having finished second on his only visit.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Thirsk in this field?
Michael Dods has the strongest strike rate at Thirsk with both King's Crown and Military Girl, operating at 10% from large samples.
Which horse is dropping in class and has the most placed form on good ground?
Khabib is dropping in class and has been placed four times from 14 runs on good ground.
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