7:50 Hamilton
This Class 6 handicap over 1m3f15y at Hamilton on soft ground brings together nine limited performers, most of whom have been knocking on the door in this grade without making a major impression. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched, with no standout standout, though the top four are separated by only nine points and all hold some relevant course or ground form. Vampire Slayer heads the KTB rankings as the selection, aided by a drop in class and his proven ability to make the running on soft ground.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, and Vampire Slayer is the one horse in the field whose run-style is to make the running or race prominently. With little apparent pressure from the other eight runners, who are all held-up types, he is likely to secure an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for the closers to bridge in the testing conditions. The key question is whether any of the held-up brigade can produce a strong enough finishing effort on this soft surface to reel him in late.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Vampire Slayer KTB Selection58/100
Vampire Slayer is a limited performer who has been placed without winning at this trip and possesses a win on soft ground from 14 starts on that surface. His recent form is ordinary and he was well beaten on his only previous run here. He drops in class which should help, and the combination of trainer and jockey both hold solid records at Hamilton. With his front-running style he is set to make the running here on soft ground, where the uncontested lead could be a significant asset. The trainer-jockey partnership has produced a 5/12 record with a positive A/E of 2.45 and LSP of +£11.61.
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2Hickton52/100
Hickton is a limited performer who has won once in 23 starts this year and looks vulnerable on most readings. He has won here from two runs at Hamilton and holds a placing at today's trip, while he has also won on soft ground. The trainer and jockey both operate at a modest 8% strike rate at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time up front. His course record at Hamilton gives him a foothold in the contest.
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3Annandale51/100
Annandale is a limited performer who has won once over this trip and once at Hamilton. His recent form is respectable in this grade yet he has never placed on soft ground in two attempts. The trainer and jockey both have solid long-term records at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need to find a way past the likely clear leader on ground that has so far not suited. He arrives with a 1 from 3 course record and consistent efforts in similar company.
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4Dubai Venture49/100
Dubai Venture is a limited performer who has been consistent of late with two seconds from his last three starts. He was placed on his only previous visit to Hamilton and drops back in trip today having failed to land a blow over 1m6f last time. The trainer remains winless from nine attempts at the track while the jockey has a solid record here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be aiming to come from off the pace on ground that remains unproven. His placed effort at this course last time suggests he handles the venue.
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5Sophiesticate46/100
Sophiesticate is a limited horse who has been placed without winning on five of her eight runs here and looks competitive again from stall three. She has form on soft ground and drops back to a trip where she has been placed once before. The trainer and jockey both have modest records at Hamilton.
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6Falaise Blanc45/100
Falaise Blanc is a limited performer who has been placed four times from five runs at Hamilton without winning. She has shown some competitiveness on soft ground and stays this trip though without winning at it. The trainer's modest record here is offset by the jockey's solid strike-rate at the track.
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7Uncle Liam45/100
Uncle Liam is a limited performer who has won once in six runs here at Hamilton and has placed on soft ground from two attempts. He steps up in trip today having failed to win in two previous tries at this distance. The trainer has a modest 10% strike-rate at the track from a huge sample while Tudhope rides with an 18% strike-rate here.
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8Dandy's Angel43/100
Dandy's Angel is a limited performer who has been out of the frame on his last four starts. He has won once from six runs at Hamilton and holds a solid record on soft ground with two wins and three places from 11 attempts. The step up to 1m3f poses a fresh question today having last run over 1m.
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9Spirit Of Nature38/100
Spirit Of Nature is a limited performer who has shown bits of ability here without ever looking like winning, finishing third on his most recent visit. He drops back in trip having been well held over further last time, though the yard's modest record at the track offers little encouragement. The jockey has a solid strike rate here from a smallish sample and he remains unproven on soft ground.
KTB verdict
Vampire Slayer is the KTB Selection and looks to hold the key to the race thanks to his front-running style in a contest with a lone-leader pace shape. He is dropping in class, has a win on soft ground, and the trainer-jockey combination has been profitable at Hamilton. The main dangers are likely to come from the course-conversant pair Hickton and Annandale, both of whom have won at the track and shown respectable form in this grade, though both will need to overcome the soft ground and the prospect of chasing an uncontested leader. Dubai Venture's recent consistency also makes him a player if he can handle the drop back in trip.
KTB Selection Vampire Slayer
This is the narrative read of the 7:50 Hamilton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Hamilton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Hamilton results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is most likely to secure an uncontested lead?
Vampire Slayer, whose run-style is to make the running or race on the pace in a race with a lone-leader pace shape.
Which runners have previous wins at Hamilton?
Hickton, Annandale, Uncle Liam and Dandy's Angel have all won at the track.
Which horses have proven form on soft ground?
Vampire Slayer, Hickton, Sophiesticate, Falaise Blanc, Uncle Liam and Dandy's Angel have all shown form on soft ground.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Hamilton among those represented?
Daragh Bourke with a 15% strike rate at Hamilton.
Which jockey has the highest strike rate at Hamilton in this field?
Daniel Tudhope with an 18% strike rate at Hamilton.
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