5:20 Doncaster
A competitive Class 4 Pertemps Network Handicap over 1m2f43y at Doncaster on good to soft ground features a field of 19, with the KTB Fit scores tightly bunched at the top. The principals are headed by Optician on 62, closely followed by On The Inlet on 61, with Almekarem, Everyoneknowsadave and Spirit Genie completing the top five between 57 and 53. Several runners step up or drop in class while others tackle the track or trip for the first time, and the overall numbers point to a race where late closers could be advantaged if the pace holds up.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners in the line-up the pace shape is likely to be strong, confidence high. Canvas, Amancio, Director's Cut, Ziata and Naples are all inclined to race prominently or make the running, while On The Inlet also tends to go forward. This could set the race up for hold-up horses, with several of the leading contenders including Optician, Almekarem, Everyoneknowsadave and Spirit Genie among those who usually produce their effort late. The key question is whether the strong pace will collapse in the closing stages, allowing the hold-up brigade to pick up the pieces.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Optician KTB Selection62/100
Optician is a modest performer who won on his only previous visit to Doncaster and has a solid 1-3 record on good to soft ground. He drops back from 1m4f to a trip where he has been placed twice without winning, which looks a sensible move on the figures. The high draw in stall 16 adds a question mark from a wide position. Michael Herrington has a 10% strike rate at Doncaster with an A/E of 1.06 from 86 runs, while Conor Whiteley boasts a 36% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 3.12 from 11 rides. The 6-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence in that run-style. His recent form reads 401529 and he steps up in class.
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2On The Inlet61/100
On The Inlet is a fair performer who has shown mixed form this year with two wins earlier in the campaign but has failed to build on them in three starts since. This is his first time at Doncaster and he has only one previous run on good to soft ground, so both the track and conditions remain questions. The trainer has a solid 12% strike rate here from 25 runs. Jack Doughty is in the saddle and the yard's record with the jockey reads 5-72 with an A/E of 0.51. The 3-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence and his recent form is 110533.
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3Almekarem57/100
Almekarem is a fair performer who arrives in solid form after two seconds on his last two starts and has already won over today's trip. He acts on good to soft ground having been placed on it and the yard has a 12% strike rate at Doncaster from 230 runs. The first run at the track is neutral and he is drawn in stall 12. Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris combine with a trainer-jockey record of 480-2598 and an A/E of 0.89. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, the 4-year-old has recent form figures of 4-1722.
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4Everyoneknowsadave54/100
Everyoneknowsadave is a fair handicapper with a solid recent record of 432142 that includes two wins in the last six starts. He drops back from 1m3f to a trip he has won over before, though his sole run on good to soft produced no joy and he could only finish fifth on his one visit to Doncaster. The yard holds an 11% strike rate here from 61 runs while Sean Levey has a good record at the track. Jessica Macey and Sean Levey are 1-7 together. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, the 4-year-old steps up in class.
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5Spirit Genie53/100
Spirit Genie is a fair performer who showed his best recent effort when winning last time out off a 3 lb lower mark. He has run twice here without placing and steps up in trip for the first time since an unsuccessful try at this distance. The trainer operates at an 8% strike rate from 155 runs at Doncaster. Jennie Candlish and Jason Hart are 3-12 with an A/E of 1.57. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, the 6-year-old has recent form of 3-7801 and steps up in class.
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6Something Splendid53/100
Something Splendid is a modest performer who won over this trip on his only previous visit to Doncaster and has a rock-solid record on good to soft ground with three wins from three starts. Recent form has been patchy but he has dropped to a workable mark and the yard's 12% strike rate here from 222 runs is respectable. Tom Marquand also strikes at 13% from 226 rides at the track. Usually held up with high confidence, he steps up in class.
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7Canvas51/100
Canvas is a modest performer who has won twice from five runs at this track and is 1-3 at today's trip. Has been placed on good to soft ground though remains winless on it. Trainer's 8% strike rate from 288 runs at Doncaster is offset by a positive A/E of 1.16. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence.
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8Without Compromise51/100
Without Compromise is a fair handicapper who has won three times over today's trip from 11 attempts. Consistent enough without being prolific, as shown by the string of mid-division finishes this year, and the first visit to Doncaster is simply unknown rather than a weakness. Antony Brittain has a 0% strike rate from 44 runs here while Cam Hardie also has limited course experience. Usually held up with high confidence and drops in class.
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9Amidst The Chaos51/100
Amidst The Chaos is a modest performer who has won once from four runs at this track and has placed both times he has tried this trip. He has been in and out of form this year but the recent 023 suggests he is competitive at this level on his best days. Trainer's modest strike rate here is offset by the jockey's solid record at the course though the horse remains unproven on good to soft ground. Usually held up with high confidence and steps up in class.
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10Fans Favourite51/100
Fans Favourite is a modest performer with a solid recent record including two wins over today's trip from only two attempts. First time at Doncaster and unproven on good to soft ground both add unknowns at this stage. Trainer has a 14% strike rate here from 187 runs while jockey posts 16% from 315 rides. Usually held up with high confidence and steps up in class.
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11Reveur51/100
Reveur is a fair performer who showed promise when winning a maiden on debut before struggling in stronger company on his two starts since. He steps up in trip today for a yard with a modest 9% strike rate at Doncaster from a large sample. The jockey has a solid 12% record here but the horse remains lightly raced overall with plenty still to prove. Unproven on good to soft.
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12Amancio49/100
Amancio is a fair handicapper who has been placed on his last two starts and arrives here in reasonable form. He has shown he can be competitive on good to soft ground and has placed form at this trip, though he drops back from 2m1f today. The yard has a 0% strike rate from seven runs at Doncaster while he himself could only finish fifth on his sole visit here. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence and drops in class.
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13Illy's Roo49/100
Illy's Roo is a fair 3-year-old with a string of modest efforts this year and a career record that shows it struggles to land the big blows. It was well beaten on its only previous visit to Doncaster and has failed to place in three runs on good to soft ground. Stepping up to 1m2f for the first time asks a fresh question of a horse that has looked limited at shorter trips. Usually held up with high confidence.
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14Newtown Duke47/100
Newtown Duke is a modest performer who arrives in decent nick after two placed efforts this year. Drops back from 1m4f to a trip he has tried four times without success, though he has placed once on good to soft. Ian Williams has an 11% strike rate at Doncaster from 537 runs while Clifford Lee is 10% from 136 rides here. Usually held up with high confidence.
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15Highland Olly46/100
Highland Olly is a fair performer who has been placed at this track without winning. He steps up in trip today for the first time and has no experience of good to soft ground, so both are unknowns. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate at Doncaster adds a negative. Usually races handily, on or close to the lead with medium confidence.
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16His Finest Hour46/100
His Finest Hour is a modest performer who has shown consistency this year with placed efforts at 1m2f on good to soft. He has won at today's trip but was only sixth on his sole visit to Doncaster and is drawn wide in stall 14. Trainer has a 6% strike rate from 32 runs here while the jockey also operates at a modest level on this track. Usually held up with high confidence and steps up in class.
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17Director's Cut46/100
Director's Cut is a fair 3-year-old who has shown ability but has been below form in two starts this season. He ran respectably when fifth on his only previous visit to Doncaster and steps up in trip today, a move that asks a fresh question after racing exclusively at a mile. The jockey has a solid 15% strike rate here from 207 rides while the trainer's small-sample record at the track offers no clear guide. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
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18Ziata44/100
Ziata is a modest performer who has won once over today's trip from four attempts. Has shown mixed form this year with a win and a couple of placed efforts but has failed to place in three runs on good to soft ground. Trainer holds a 10% strike rate here from 50 runs while Saffie Osborne is on board for the first time at this track. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence and steps up in class.
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19Naples41/100
Naples is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He has already been tried at this trip without success and drops back from 1m4f today while showing no win or place from two runs on good to soft. The yard's modest record here adds to the negatives. Tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence.
KTB verdict
Optician is the KTB Selection. A modest performer who won on his only previous visit to Doncaster, he has a solid record on good to soft and the drop back from 1m4f to a trip where he has been placed twice looks a sensible move. Usually held up, he is set to benefit if the strong pace collapses late in a race that favours hold-up horses. The main dangers are headed by On The Inlet, who brings fair form and a forward-running style that could see him prominent throughout, and Almekarem, who arrives in solid nick after two recent seconds and has already won over the trip while acting on the ground.
KTB Selection Optician
This is the narrative read of the 5:20 Doncaster. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Doncaster racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Doncaster results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse won on its only previous visit to Doncaster and also has a solid record on good to soft ground?
Optician, who is the KTB Selection with a Fit Score of 62.
How many habitual front-runners contribute to the strong pace shape?
Two or more habitual front-runners, with the pace likely to be strong and could collapse late, favouring hold-up horses.
Which runner has won twice from five starts at Doncaster and is 1-3 at today's trip?
Canvas, a modest performer who has been placed on good to soft though remains winless on it.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Doncaster for the yard of the top-rated horse?
Michael Herrington has a 10% strike rate at Doncaster with an A/E of 1.06 from 86 runs.
Which 3-year-old has two wins over today's trip from only two attempts but is unproven on good to soft and at the track?
Fans Favourite, a modest performer with a Fit Score of 51 who steps up in class.
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