5:40 Hamilton
This Class 6 apprentice handicap over the minimum trip at Hamilton brings together a field of eight modest performers on good to soft ground. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top end, with Thornaby Pearl heading the numbers on 59, followed by Thunderstorm Katie, Harb and Azuinthejungle all in the low-to-mid 50s. Several runners have previous experience around this track, including course winners, and the race looks likely to be decided by who can capitalise on the drop in class or rediscover best form on a surface that suits a number of them.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a fairly even breakdown with no pronounced front-running bias, though several runners prefer to race prominently. Thornaby Pearl and Realistic Dream are likely to be ridden forward from their respective draws, while Thunderstorm Katie and Harb can also take a hand early. The key question is whether the race develops into a sprint for the line or if the good-to-soft ground allows those with proven stamina at the trip to come through late, particularly given the modest overall quality on show.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Thornaby Pearl KTB Selection59/100Modest performer with a solid record here including a course win from six runs.
- 2Thunderstorm Katie54/100
- 3Harb53/100Modest performer who has won seven times at this trip but looks to be on the downgrade judged on this year's form figures.
- 4Azuinthejungle51/100Modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a best effort of third in a similar race at Redcar last time.
- 5Realistic Dream49/100
- 6Doon The Glen47/100Limited performer who has won once in six runs at Hamilton and handles good to soft ground with a win and two places from three starts.
- 7Ski Angel43/100Ski Angel is a limited handicapper who has been consistent enough to place in two of her last three starts and knows her way around this track having won here f…
- 8Sixcor37/100Limited performer who has won once over this trip and once at Hamilton from modest overall figures.
The contenders
Thornaby Pearl KTB Fit 59/100
Thornaby Pearl is the KTB Selection. This modest performer brings a solid record at Hamilton that includes a course win from six runs. He has won three times at this trip and also goes well on good to soft ground with two victories and three places from eleven starts. The eight-year-old is in decent heart judged on recent form figures of 534142. Trainer Adrian Nicholls and jockey Jack Nicholls both strike at a healthy rate around Hamilton, with the yard showing a 17% strike rate and the rider a 24% strike rate at the track.
Thunderstorm Katie KTB Fit 54/100
Thunderstorm Katie arrives in good order with consecutive runner-up finishes and is dropping in class. This five-year-old has won here from eight runs at the track. She has shown no win or place from four runs on good to soft ground to date. Recent form reads -97222 and the yard of Jim Goldie continues to operate at a 12% strike rate at Hamilton. Rhys Elliott takes the ride and the combination will need to overcome the fact that the jockey has recorded a 7% strike rate at the venue.
Harb KTB Fit 53/100
Harb is a modest performer who has won seven times at this trip but looks to be on the downgrade judged on this year's form figures of 788168. He has run respectably in both visits to Hamilton without threatening to win, finishing sixth and fifth. The seven-year-old acts on good to soft ground with a win and two places from four starts. Trainer Tristan Davidson continues in solid form here with a 20% strike rate, though the claiming jockey Lexie Clarkson has very limited track experience with a 0% strike rate from three rides.
Azuinthejungle KTB Fit 51/100
Azuinthejungle is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a best effort of third in a similar race at Redcar last time. He has won on good to soft ground and at this trip but was well beaten on his only previous run here when finishing twelfth. The four-year-old is dropping in class and recent form reads -70473. Trainer Nigel Tinkler and jockey Alex Jary both have modest strike rates at the track, with the yard on 11% and the rider on 8% at Hamilton.
The rest of the field
Realistic DreamKTB Fit 49/100
Realistic Dream is a three-year-old with recent form of 965956 and ran fifth on his only previous visit to Hamilton. He is unproven on good to soft ground having had no runs on the surface.
Doon The GlenKTB Fit 47/100
Doon The Glen is a limited performer who has won once in six runs at Hamilton and handles good to soft ground with a win and two places from three starts. Recent form is patchy yet he did win a similar race here in June before running creditably off this mark three starts back; first-time headgear is now applied.
Ski AngelKTB Fit 43/100
Ski Angel is a limited handicapper who has been consistent enough to place in two of her last three starts and knows her way around this track having won here from seven runs. She has also won twice on good to soft ground from ten attempts and has scored six times at this trip during a busy career.
SixcorKTB Fit 37/100
Sixcor is a limited performer who has won once over this trip and once at Hamilton from modest overall figures. Recent form is ordinary and first-time headgear is now reached after a string of placed efforts rather than wins.
KTB verdict
Thornaby Pearl is the KTB Selection. He brings a solid record at this track that includes a course win, goes well on good to soft ground and has the benefit of a trainer and jockey combination that both strike at a healthy rate around Hamilton. His recent form is respectable and he looks to have the best blend of course knowledge and conditions in a race where several others are either on the downgrade or unproven on the surface. The main dangers are Thunderstorm Katie, who is in good heart and dropping in class having won here before, and Harb, who has run respectably on both previous visits to the track despite looking on the downgrade.
KTB Selection Thornaby Pearl
This is the narrative read of the 5:40 Hamilton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hamilton racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Hamilton?
Thornaby Pearl has a course win from six runs at Hamilton.
How many wins has Harb recorded at this trip?
Harb has won seven times at this trip.
Which runners are dropping in class?
Thunderstorm Katie, Harb and Azuinthejungle are all dropping in class.
Which horse is making its first appearance in headgear?
Doon The Glen and Sixcor are both wearing first-time headgear.
Who has the best strike rate at Hamilton among the trainers in this race?
Tristan Davidson has a 20% strike rate at Hamilton.
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