5:05 Southwell
This Class 5 handicap hurdle at Southwell over 2m4f88y on good ground features a compact field of eight runners where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched between 63 and 47. The principals bring a mix of recent form, course experience and distance prowess, though several arrive with questions to answer after breaks or modest recent runs. Overall the KTB numbers point to a competitive race in which proven ability around this trip and track will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is genuinely run with a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types, setting up a fair test. Gone In Sixty is the clear front-runner and will look to dictate, with Ruler Legend and Royal Rhythm prominent and ready to apply pressure from the early stages. William Of York will settle in midfield while Achille Des Rocs and Callin Baton Rouge are held up, meaning the key question is whether the prominent runners can maintain their effort or if the late closers will be able to pick them off in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1William Of York KTB Selection63/100William Of York arrives in decent form for a smart performer and has won five times from 15 starts at today's trip.
- 2Achille Des Rocs61/100Achille Des Rocs showed smart level ability when winning over hurdles and has already scored at this track on his only visit.
- 3Callin Baton Rouge60/100Smart performer who has run to a high level on his day but arrives in modest form after a string of placed efforts without winning.
- 4Gone In Sixty59/100Smart performer who has been placed on three of his last four starts and showed he handles this track when finishing second here in January.
- 5Fighting Falcon58/100Useful performer who made a winning start for this yard at Uttoxeter last month over today's trip on good ground.
- 6Ruler Legend55/100Ruler Legend is a smart performer on his figures and arrives in solid form after a string of wins and a recent second.
- 7Royal Rhythm48/100Royal Rhythm is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 104 and has shown enough placed form at today's trip to suggest the distance is within range.
- 8Golden Glance47/100Useful performer who has won over today's trip but has struggled to build on that lately with a string of modest efforts.
The contenders
William Of York KTB Fit 63/100
William Of York is taken to land this despite a first visit to Southwell. A smart performer on his best days with an RPR of 106, he arrives in decent form for his ability and has won five times from 15 starts at today's trip. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and the yard's 12% strike rate at Southwell from 50 runs looks respectable. The Rebecca Menzies stable partners with Charlie Maggs who boasts a 27% strike rate at the track from 11 rides. Typically settling in midfield, he should be well placed to launch a challenge if the prominent horses come back to him.
Achille Des Rocs KTB Fit 61/100
Achille Des Rocs showed smart level ability when winning over hurdles and has already scored at this track on his only visit. Dropping in class, he steps back from 3m to a trip he has won over although his return from a lengthy break produced a poor chase run in April. The yard's 13% strike-rate at Southwell is solid enough and Brian Hughes takes the ride. With two wins from five starts on good ground he should handle the conditions, while his held-up run style means he will be looking to produce his effort late once the front-runners have been asked to quicken.
Callin Baton Rouge KTB Fit 60/100
Callin Baton Rouge is a smart performer who has run to a high level on his day but arrives in modest form after a string of placed efforts without winning. He has shown some ability in two runs at Southwell without threatening to win and steps up in trip today having already scored over this distance in the past. The Charles & Adam Pogson yard holds a solid 13% strike rate at the venue from 108 runs although the jockey's strike rate is on the low side. Usually held up, he will be produced late and his recent third suggests he retains enough ability to be a player if the race falls his way.
Gone In Sixty KTB Fit 59/100
Gone In Sixty is a smart performer who has been placed on three of his last four starts and showed he handles this track when finishing second here in January. He will take the field along as the front-runner and his prominent run style should ensure he is seen to best effect in a genuinely-run race. Only one win from 31 starts on good ground raises a question today while his record at Southwell is placed but winless from four runs. The Alex Hales yard operates at a 9% strike rate here from a large sample and the booking of Bryan Carver adds further interest in a race where his early pace could prove hard to peg back.
The rest of the field
Fighting FalconKTB Fit 58/100
Fighting Falcon is a useful performer who made a winning start for this yard at Uttoxeter last month over today's trip on good ground. He has won his only start at this distance and his only run on this going, with the cheekpieces clearly helping, while the trainer has a solid 19% strike rate here from 89 runs.
Ruler LegendKTB Fit 55/100
Ruler Legend is a smart performer on his figures and arrives in solid form after a string of wins and a recent second. He has shown enough on good ground to suggest conditions will suit and the trainer's record here adds some confidence, though the step up in trip is an unknown and his sole previous run at Southwell ended in a fall.
Royal RhythmKTB Fit 48/100
Royal Rhythm is a useful performer on his best days with an RPR of 104 and has shown enough placed form at today's trip to suggest the distance is within range. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and arrives here off the back of a modest fifth last time, with the yard posting an 11% strike rate at Southwell from 36 runs.
Golden GlanceKTB Fit 47/100
Golden Glance is a useful performer who has won over today's trip but has struggled to build on that lately with a string of modest efforts. He shows no win or place from six runs on good ground and makes his first visit to Southwell while dropping in class.
KTB verdict
William Of York is the KTB Selection. He arrives in decent form for a smart performer, boasts five wins from 15 starts at the trip and can be expected to settle nicely in midfield before delivering his challenge. The yard and jockey both have respectable records at Southwell and his ability on good ground makes him well equipped for what should be a genuinely-run contest. The main dangers are Achille Des Rocs, who has already won here and drops in class, Callin Baton Rouge who steps up in trip with placed form at the track, and Gone In Sixty who will make the running and has been placed on this course.
KTB Selection William Of York
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 06:55 UTC, 9 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| William Of York | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Achille Des Rocs | 10/1 | Midnite |
| Callin Baton Rouge | 11/2 | Bet365 |
| Gone In Sixty | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Fighting Falcon | 15/8 | Unibet |
| Ruler Legend | 10/3 | 7Bet |
| Royal Rhythm | 16/1 | 7Bet |
| Golden Glance | 10/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 5:05 Southwell. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Southwell racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won over this trip the most times?
William Of York has won five times from 15 starts at today's trip.
How many course wins does Achille Des Rocs have at Southwell?
Achille Des Rocs has won here from his only visit to the track.
What is the best recent run for Callin Baton Rouge?
Callin Baton Rouge arrives in modest form after a string of placed efforts without winning, most recently finishing third.
Has Gone In Sixty been placed at Southwell before?
Gone In Sixty has a placed record but no win from four runs at Southwell, including a second here in January.
Which horse won last time out and what headgear did it wear?
Fighting Falcon won last time out at Uttoxeter wearing cheekpieces that clearly helped.
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