7:15 Sedgefield
This Class 5 handicap hurdle at Sedgefield over 2m3f188y on good ground brings together ten runners in a steadily-run, tactical affair. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Socks Off heading the numbers on 67, closely followed by Aimeric and William Yeats on 62. With no obvious front-runner in the pace shape, the race looks set to be decided by those who can position effectively and deliver their effort at the right moment on this track.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical contest where being handy should pay dividends. Most of the field, including all five principals, are held-up types who produce their effort late, so the key question is whether any horse can get into a workable position early enough without using up too much energy. With the pace unlikely to be strong, those with a turn of foot from off the pace could be favoured as the race unfolds.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Socks Off KTB Selection67/100Useful performer who has won over today's trip and at this track.
- 2Aimeric62/100Aimeric is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history.
- 3William Yeats62/100Useful performer who has already won once over this course in three starts.
- 4American Empire59/100Useful performer who has been running to a similar level in recent starts without quite getting his head in front.
- 5Indian Sunbird55/100Useful performer who has placed on all three starts at this track including a solid third here last time.
- 6Top Flight Century55/100Fair performer who has won once from two runs at Sedgefield and also has two wins from six starts at today's trip.
- 7Pepite De Saphir52/100Pepite De Saphir is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and race history.
- 8Lipstick Traces47/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form without winning lately.
- 9Lillistar44/100Lillistar is a fair performer with solid placed form around this track, including two seconds and a third from four runs.
- 10Makinbecon44/100Fair performer who has shown a decent level of ability with two wins this year.
The contenders
Socks Off KTB Fit 67/100
Socks Off is a useful performer who has won over today's trip and at this track. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and now steps back up in distance after his latest run over much shorter. The yard has no previous runners at Sedgefield. His recent form reads 333/6- and he is held up, usually producing his effort late. The jockey has a 10% strike rate at Sedgefield with an A/E of 0.88 from 30 rides, while the trainer operates at 22% from 9 runs here overall.
Aimeric KTB Fit 62/100
Aimeric is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history. He arrives in decent nick with three solid efforts this season from his form figures of 4-44 and has a good record on good ground with 4 wins from 12. The longer trip is an unknown and this is his first run at Sedgefield, though the yard's solid 17% strike rate here from 272 runs offers some encouragement. He is held up and produces his effort late. The trainer and jockey combination shows 13% from 1644 rides with an A/E of 0.88.
William Yeats KTB Fit 62/100
William Yeats is a useful performer who has already won once over this course in three starts. He steps up in trip today having last run over 2m1f, with one previous try at this distance that brought no success. The trainer has a solid 17% strike rate from 227 runs here while the small overall sample on good ground means it remains an unknown. His form reads 15633- and he is held up with a high degree of confidence in that run-style. The jockey has a 16% strike rate at Sedgefield with an A/E of 0.98 from 251 rides.
American Empire KTB Fit 59/100
American Empire is a useful performer who has been running to a similar level in recent starts without quite getting his head in front, as shown by his form of 43-337. He steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question of him and he also tries first-time headgear. The trainer has a solid 20% strike rate at Sedgefield from 837 runs. He is held up and produces his effort late with high confidence in that style. The jockey records a 21% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.32 from 100 rides.
Indian Sunbird KTB Fit 55/100
Indian Sunbird is a useful performer who has placed on all three starts at this track including a solid third here last time. He drops back from 2m7f to a trip he has tried three times without success, though he stays further and the shorter distance looks a fair question rather than a negative. The trainer records a 7% strike-rate from 30 runs at Sedgefield while the jockey has a 5% strike rate here with an A/E of 0.39 from 19 rides. His recent form is 5-3264 and he is held up with high confidence.
The rest of the field
Top Flight CenturyKTB Fit 55/100
Top Flight Century is a fair performer who has won once from two runs at Sedgefield and also has two wins from six starts at today's trip. He drops back from 2m6f having shown modest form on his last two starts from figures of 6-4538. The trainer records a 7% strike rate from 215 runs here while the jockey is yet to record a winner from 12 rides at the track.
Pepite De SaphirKTB Fit 52/100
Pepite De Saphir is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and race history. She has shown some promise at this trip without managing to win in two attempts and holds solid course connections through the yard. The trainer maintains a 14 percent strike rate from 302 runs at Sedgefield while the small overall sample leaves her going preference unconfirmed on good ground where she is 0-3.
Lipstick TracesKTB Fit 47/100
Lipstick Traces is a useful performer who has shown consistent form without winning lately from his figures of 3-35F5. He has placed on good ground but remains winless at this trip and was only fifth on his sole visit to Sedgefield. The trainer's modest record here adds no encouragement.
LillistarKTB Fit 44/100
Lillistar is a fair performer with solid placed form around this track, including two seconds and a third from four runs. He steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance previously, and he has shown he can be competitive on good ground. The yard's modest strike rate here is worth noting.
MakinbeconKTB Fit 44/100
Makinbecon is a fair performer who has shown a decent level of ability with two wins this year. He steps up in trip today having been unsuccessful in three previous attempts at this distance while the switch to Sedgefield is an unknown. The trainer has no recorded runners at the track and the jockey is also making a first appearance here.
KTB verdict
Socks Off is the KTB Selection. He brings strong course and distance credentials as a useful performer who has already won over today's trip and at Sedgefield, and he remains competitive on good ground. His late run-style should suit the expected steady pace, and the step back up in distance after a shorter run looks a positive. The main dangers are Aimeric, who arrives in decent nick with a good record on good ground, and William Yeats, who has already won over this course and can improve for the longer trip.
KTB Selection Socks Off
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:25 UTC, 28 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Socks Off | 17/2 | William Hill |
| Aimeric | 10/3 | Bet365 |
| William Yeats | 7/2 | Bet365 |
| American Empire | 20/1 | William Hill |
| Indian Sunbird | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Top Flight Century | 17/2 | William Hill |
| Pepite De Saphir | 18/1 | 7Bet |
| Lipstick Traces | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| Lillistar | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| Makinbecon | 13/2 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 7:15 Sedgefield. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Sedgefield racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has previous winning form over both the trip and the course?
Socks Off has won over today's trip and at this track.
How does the lack of a leader in the pace shape affect the race?
It points to a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
Which runners are making their first appearance at Sedgefield?
Aimeric, Pepite De Saphir, Makinbecon and the trainer of Socks Off have no previous runners or form at the track.
Who tries headgear for the first time?
American Empire wears first-time headgear.
Which horse has the strongest trainer strike rate at Sedgefield among the principals?
American Empire's trainer has a 20% strike rate at Sedgefield from 837 runs.
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