4:45 Sandown
This Class 5 fillies’ handicap over a mile at Sandown on good ground brings together a field of eight modest performers where the KTB Fit ratings point to a competitive but unexceptional affair. The top four in the KTB rankings are separated by only 15 points, underlining how little separates the principals on paper. With no obvious front-runner declared, the race is expected to be tactical and steadily run, placing a premium on the right position early and a well-timed move.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a clear leader, suggesting a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy will pay. Box Clever typically settles in midfield from stall one, while Kino Plasmat is the most prominent of the principals and may take up a forward position. Post Rider, Perfect Ruler, Dark Rosa, Dandy Khan and Pretty Spirited are all hold-up types who will be looking to come from off the pace. The key question is whether the race will develop enough momentum for the closers to get a clear run in the straight or whether the handy runners can dictate matters.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Box Clever KTB Selection64/100Modest performer who has shown some consistency lately with a win and a third in his last two starts.
- 2Post Rider57/100Modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of mid-division finishes.
- 3Kino Plasmat50/100Modest performer who has shown ordinary form in three starts, finishing no better than fourth.
- 4Perfect Ruler49/100Modest performer who has shown steady improvement this year and arrives off the back of a win at this trip last time.
- 5Poets Praise49/100Modest performer who has shown steady rather than sparkling form in three runs to date.
- 6Dark Rosa45/100Modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning often.
- 7Dandy Khan39/100Limited performer who has been consistent enough in recent starts without threatening to win.
- 8Pretty Spirited36/100Pretty Spirited is a limited performer who has shown bits of form this year but remains inconsistent.
The contenders
Box Clever KTB Fit 64/100
Box Clever is a modest performer who has shown some consistency lately, registering a win and a third in his last two starts. He has already won on good ground and at this trip, while stall one could prove an advantage around Sandown. The Jonathan Portman yard has a 9% strike rate at the track from 201 runs with an A/E of 0.97, and Jason Watson rides with a 12% strike rate here from 145 rides and an A/E of 1.04. Their combined record reads 2/9 (22%). Typically settling in midfield, Box Clever looks well placed to take advantage of a steadily-run affair.
Post Rider KTB Fit 57/100
Post Rider is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this year, recording a string of mid-division finishes. He drops back to his winning trip today, having scored three times at a mile, and he acts well on good ground with three wins from six starts. His course record is poor from a single run when he finished eighth. The Oliver Cole yard has a 0% strike rate at Sandown from four runs with an A/E of 0, though Lewis Edmunds has a stronger 18% strike rate at the venue from 45 rides and an A/E of 1.41. Usually held up and producing his effort late, Post Rider will need the race to fall right.
Kino Plasmat KTB Fit 50/100
Kino Plasmat is a modest performer who has shown ordinary form in three starts, finishing no better than fourth. He has twice tried this trip without success and remains lightly raced on both ground and at the track. Dropping in class, he is ridden by Oisin Murphy and trained by Ed Walker, whose record at Sandown reads 12% strike rate from 143 runs with an A/E of 0.81; Murphy himself has a 15% strike rate at the course from 499 rides with an A/E of 0.81. The trainer-jockey combination shows 49/201 (24%) with an A/E of 1.10 and +£12.15 LSP. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, Kino Plasmat could be well positioned in a tactical race.
Perfect Ruler KTB Fit 49/100
Perfect Ruler is a modest performer who has shown steady improvement this year and arrives off the back of a win at this trip last time. Stepping up in class, he has only five career starts and the going remains an unknown after two runs on good without a win or place. The Marco Botti yard has a solid 12% strike rate at Sandown from 112 runs with an A/E of 0.89, and Marco Ghiani has a 16% strike rate here from 58 rides with an A/E of 1.31. Their combined record stands at 72/385 (19%) with an A/E of 1.08 and +£32.45 LSP. Usually held up and producing his effort late, Perfect Ruler will be looking to come from off the pace.
The rest of the field
Poets PraiseKTB Fit 49/100
Poets Praise is a modest performer who has shown steady rather than sparkling form in three runs to date. Stepping up from 7f to an untested 1m today which asks a fresh question of him, he drops in class. The Ralph Beckett yard has a solid 13% strike rate at Sandown from 359 runs with an A/E of 0.86.
Dark RosaKTB Fit 45/100
Dark Rosa is a modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning often. She has won over today's trip and has placed twice from six starts on good ground, though she has yet to show her best at Sandown where the yard is still waiting for a first winner from ten runners. Her recent form reads 798363.
Dandy KhanKTB Fit 39/100
Dandy Khan is a limited performer who has been consistent enough in recent starts without threatening to win. He has a win on record at this trip but has failed to place in six runs on good ground and makes his first visit to Sandown. The yard's modest 7% strike rate here from 178 runs adds no encouragement.
Pretty SpiritedKTB Fit 36/100
Pretty Spirited is a limited performer who has shown bits of form this year but remains inconsistent. She has a win on good ground from three starts and has scored twice at this trip from ten attempts, though she drops back in distance today after her latest run. The yard has only two runs at Sandown which is too small a sample to judge and this is her first appearance at the track.
KTB verdict
Box Clever is the KTB Selection. A modest performer who has shown some consistency lately with a win and a third in his last two starts, he has already won on good ground and at this trip while stall one could be an advantage around Sandown. The trainer has a solid 9% strike rate from 201 runs at the track and the combination looks well placed in a steadily-run, tactical affair. His main dangers are likely to be Kino Plasmat, who is prominent and dropping in class with the assistance of Oisin Murphy, and Perfect Ruler, who arrives on the back of a win at the trip and is lightly raced.
KTB Selection Box Clever
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:24 UTC, 28 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Box Clever | 5/2 | Bet365 |
| Post Rider | 20/1 | Bet Victor |
| Kino Plasmat | 7/2 | Bet365 |
| Perfect Ruler | 6/1 | William Hill |
| Poets Praise | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| Dark Rosa | 8/1 | LiveScore Bet |
| Dandy Khan | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Pretty Spirited | 10/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 4:45 Sandown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Sandown racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why is stall one potentially advantageous for Box Clever?
Stall one could be an advantage around here in a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
What is the combined trainer-jockey record for Ed Walker and Oisin Murphy at Sandown?
49/201 (24%) with an A/E of 1.10 and +£12.15 LSP.
How many wins has Post Rider recorded at this trip?
Three times at 1m.
Which horse is stepping up in class after a recent win at this trip?
Perfect Ruler.
What is the yard's strike rate at Sandown for the trainer of Dark Rosa?
0% strike rate at Sandown from 10 runs with an A/E of 0.
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