5:35 Southwell
This Class 5 handicap hurdle at Southwell over 3m60y on good ground brings together a field of 13 where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top. Indian Sunbird tops the rankings on 70 with East Eagle only a point behind on 69, while Stripe Of Honour, Ikigai Star and Porridge complete the principals. The official figures show a cluster of useful performers rated in the mid to high 90s on RPR, and the race looks competitive with several course winners and proven performers at the trip involved.
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. Artiste d'Ainay and the prominent racers Danger Nap and Iamcelestialgift should ensure an honest gallop, while the majority of the field including the selection Indian Sunbird prefer to be held up and produce their efforts late. This sets a key question around whether the prominent runners can sustain their efforts or if the closers will be able to pick them off in the latter stages over this stamina-testing trip.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Indian Sunbird KTB Selection70/100Indian Sunbird is a useful performer on his figures who arrives in solid form after a recent placing here.
- 2East Eagle69/100East Eagle is a useful performer on his figures who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 3Stripe Of Honour66/100Useful performer who arrives in solid form after a win last time out and has shown he handles this trip.
- 4Ikigai Star61/100Useful performer who won on his only previous visit to Southwell.
- 5Porridge58/100Porridge is a useful performer on his best days but has been well below that level in recent starts and looks vulnerable from his current mark.
- 6Can U Feel It57/100Can U Feel It showed some promise when third at Fakenham last month on just his second start in a tongue-tie and looks open to further progress now stepping up…
- 7Copper Beach54/100Copper Beach is a useful performer on his day with a solid RPR of 101 and recent placed efforts that suggest he remains competitive at this level.
- 8Danger Nap53/100Useful performer who showed clear promise when a close second at Warwick last month on his first run in a handicap.
- 9Artiste d'Ainay50/100Useful performer who arrives in reasonable form after a fifth last time out.
- 10Iamcelestialgift49/100Useful on his day with an RPR of 97 but has struggled since winning on hurdling debut, finishing pulled up or well beaten in both handicaps last season.
- 11Getaway Glory45/100Getaway Glory has struggled for over a year with a string of pulled-ups and poor finishes that leave his current form looking modest at best.
- 12Fairly Fulling45/100Useful performer on his day with a recent win on softer ground but has failed to place in eight starts on good.
- 13L'Air du Large45/100L'Air du Large is a fair performer on his best figures but has struggled in both handicap starts and was pulled up when last seen in December.
The contenders
Indian Sunbird KTB Fit 70/100
Indian Sunbird is a useful performer on his figures who arrives in solid form after a recent placing here. He has won at this trip and on this track, and his record on good ground is respectable without being outstanding. The yard's strike-rate at Southwell is modest but the A/E figure suggests they are overperforming when they do send one here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the genuinely-run pace. Harry Bannister takes the ride for a stable with an 8/66 record and positive A/E of 1.23.
East Eagle KTB Fit 69/100
East Eagle is a useful performer on his figures who has won over this trip and at this track. He has shown consistent placed form on good ground and arrives in decent order after two runs back from a break. The yard's modest strike rate here tempers expectations slightly. Usually held up, he will look to come from off the pace in what should be a truly-run contest. The 3lb claimer Charlie Maggs is aboard, a jockey with a strong 27% strike rate at Southwell from a small sample.
Stripe Of Honour KTB Fit 66/100
Stripe Of Honour is a useful performer who arrives in solid form after a win last time out and has shown he handles this trip. He has course experience with a win from 11 starts here and has won three times on good ground from 27 runs. Trainer records a 7% strike rate from 27 runs at Southwell while the jockey has limited data at the track. Isabelle Ryder claims 5lb and the 13-year-old will be held up in a race where the pace is expected to be genuine.
Ikigai Star KTB Fit 61/100
Ikigai Star is a useful performer who won on his only previous visit to Southwell. He has been out of form since March and was pulled up on his latest start, though the step up from 2m3½f to 3m is an open question rather than a proven negative. Trainer strikes at 17% here while jockey is on 14%. David Bass rides and the horse will race prominently, which could be significant given the expected genuine pace.
Porridge KTB Fit 58/100
Porridge is a useful performer on his best days but has been well below that level in recent starts and looks vulnerable from his current mark. He has never won or placed in seven runs on good ground or four starts at this trip and his two efforts here have produced no impact. The trainer’s modest 5% strike-rate at Southwell and the jockey’s 3% record add to the negatives. Usually held up, Tabitha Worsley takes the mount in a race where he may struggle to get involved.
The rest of the field
Can U Feel ItKTB Fit 57/100
Can U Feel It showed some promise when third at Fakenham last month on just his second start in a tongue-tie and looks open to further progress now stepping up markedly in trip. The useful RPR of 97 gives him a solid base in this company and the yard’s 14% strike rate at Southwell from 108 runs is respectable. Lightly raced with only seven career runs the going remains an unknown.
Copper BeachKTB Fit 54/100
Copper Beach is a useful performer on his day with a solid RPR of 101 and recent placed efforts that suggest he remains competitive at this level. He has placed twice at Southwell without winning and steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m3½f, though he has been placed at this distance in the past. The trainer’s modest 6% strike rate from 17 runs here is a negative while the 7lb claimer helps offset that.
Danger NapKTB Fit 53/100
Danger Nap is a useful performer who showed clear promise when a close second at Warwick last month on his first run in a handicap. He had been fitted with cheekpieces that day and was stepped up to this trip where he has already placed. The yard has an 11% strike rate at Southwell from 36 runs while the horse has only one run here so far when he finished fourth.
Artiste d'AinayKTB Fit 50/100
Artiste d'Ainay is a useful performer who arrives in reasonable form after a fifth last time out. Has placed twice from four runs on good ground but is yet to win at this trip in two attempts and makes his first start at Southwell. Trainer holds a modest 9% strike rate here while James Bowen has a solid 17% record at the track.
IamcelestialgiftKTB Fit 49/100
Iamcelestialgift is useful on his day with an RPR of 97 but has struggled since winning on hurdling debut, finishing pulled up or well beaten in both handicaps last season. Steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact at this distance in two previous runs. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 18 runs at Southwell.
Getaway GloryKTB Fit 45/100
Getaway Glory has struggled for over a year with a string of pulled-ups and poor finishes that leave his current form looking modest at best. He has shown he can handle this trip and has placed on good ground but his sole Southwell run was uncompetitive and the first-time headgear is now needed to spark a revival. The yard's 14% strike rate here from a decent-sized sample offers some encouragement on a track where they know what they are doing.
Fairly FullingKTB Fit 45/100
Fairly Fulling is a useful performer on his day with a recent win on softer ground but has failed to place in eight starts on good. Steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m and this is a fresh question. Trainer has only four runs at Southwell which is too small a sample to judge.
L'Air du LargeKTB Fit 45/100
L'Air du Large is a fair performer on his best figures but has struggled in both handicap starts and was pulled up when last seen in December. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer holds a solid 14% strike rate here while the jockey is operating at an impressive 21%.
KTB verdict
Indian Sunbird looks the pick on balance. A useful performer on his figures, he arrives in solid form after a recent placing here and has already won at this trip and on this track. The selection should be ideally suited by the genuinely-run pace from his held-up position. East Eagle and Stripe Of Honour are the most obvious dangers, both useful sorts with course form and recent respectable efforts, while Copper Beach and Danger Nap cannot be entirely dismissed if the race falls their way.
KTB Selection Indian Sunbird
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 06:58 UTC, 9 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Sunbird | 17/2 | BetTom |
| East Eagle | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Stripe Of Honour | 12/1 | William Hill |
| Ikigai Star | 12/1 | William Hill |
| Porridge | 70/1 | 7Bet |
| Can U Feel It | 7/1 | Sporting Index |
| Copper Beach | 5/2 | William Hill |
| Danger Nap | 11/2 | William Hill |
| Artiste d'Ainay | 13/2 | Midnite |
| Iamcelestialgift | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Getaway Glory | 22/1 | William Hill |
| Fairly Fulling | 14/1 | 7Bet |
| L'Air du Large | 50/1 | Midnite |
This is the narrative read of the 5:35 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 course-and-distance winning form?
Indian Sunbird has won at this trip and on this track.
How many of the principals race prominently?
Only Ikigai Star among the top five is a prominent racer; the other four are held up.
What is the trainer strike rate at Southwell for the yard of the selection?
Sara Ender has a 9% strike rate at Southwell with an A/E of 2.02 from 43 runs.
Which runner is making its first appearance at Southwell?
Artiste d'Ainay makes his first start at Southwell.
Who is the only runner wearing first-time headgear?
Getaway Glory is fitted with first-time headgear.
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