8:00 Beverley
A competitive Class 5 handicap over the minimum trip at Beverley on good to soft ground brings together ten modest performers, several with course form and experience at the distance. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Miss Brazen on 58, with Azuinthejungle just behind on 57 and Ay Gee Ell on 55, indicating little to choose between the principals on pure figures. Dropping in class looks a positive for the selection while others step up, and the Easterby trainers hold respectable records at the track that could prove influential.
How the race shapes up
With a few prominent runners and no obvious front-runner dominating the pace shape, the race is likely to be run at a steady rather than breakneck gallop, allowing those with tactical speed to sit prominently. Miss Brazen from stall 9 and Keldeo from 8 are expected to be forward, while Ay Gee Ell drawn in three should also be handy. The key question is whether the rail proves an advantage on good to soft or if those coming from wider can quicken effectively in the final furlong.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Miss Brazen KTB Selection58/100Modest performer who has won once from six starts at Beverley and is 4 from 31 at this trip overall.
- 2Azuinthejungle57/100Modest performer who has won once over this trip and once at Beverley from limited attempts.
- 3Ay Gee Ell55/100Modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning.
- 4Keldeo53/100Modest performer who has won once from four starts over this course and also has a win on good to soft ground from four runs.
- 5Fierce50/100Modest performer who has run well enough in two recent starts to suggest he remains competitive at this level.
- 6Jojo Rabbit48/100Jojo Rabbit is a modest performer who has won once from six runs at Beverley and holds a solid record at today's trip with six wins from 45 starts.
- 7Spirit Of Applause48/100Modest performer who has won once from four starts at Beverley and holds a solid 3-24 record at this trip.
- 8Bibendum46/100Limited performer who has been out of the frame on his last four starts and drops back to 5f today having last run over 6f.
- 9Dream Deal37/100Limited performer who has shown very little spark in two runs this year and looks up against it from stall 2.
- 10Lord Abama35/100Modest performer who has been out of form for some time and finished well down the field on his three most recent starts.
The contenders
Miss Brazen KTB Fit 58/100
Miss Brazen is a modest performer who has won once from six starts at Beverley and is four from 31 at this trip overall. She showed a bit of spark when winning a minor event here in May before two lesser efforts and has placed once from one run on good to soft. The Easterby yard has a solid 15 percent strike rate at the track while apprentice Lewis Chalkley is 1 from 11 locally. Dropping in class looks a plus from draw 9 and her recent form of 08-136 suggests she remains competitive at this level. With the yard's 14/206 record with this jockey combination, she is taken to strike again.
Azuinthejungle KTB Fit 57/100
Azuinthejungle is a modest performer who has won once over this trip and once at Beverley from limited attempts. Recent form has been ordinary with a best of seventh on his last start but he does handle good to soft ground and has shown he can go well fresh. The Tinkler yard's modest 7 percent strike rate here is offset by Faye McManoman's solid 11 percent record at the track from 169 rides. From draw 5 he should be well positioned early and his course win adds to his appeal in a race where freshness could be an asset.
Ay Gee Ell KTB Fit 55/100
Ay Gee Ell is a modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning. He has won over this trip but is 0-3 on good to soft ground and makes his first visit to Beverley. The Fahey yard has a solid 15 percent strike rate here while apprentice Warren Fentiman is 13 percent from his rides at the track. His recent form figures of 333048 reflect a reliable level without quite finding the winner's circle, and the positive trainer and jockey combination at the venue offers encouragement from a handy draw of 3.
Keldeo KTB Fit 53/100
Keldeo is a modest performer who has won once from four starts over this course and also has a win on good to soft ground from four runs. He drops back to 5f today having last run over 6f though he has won at the shorter trip in the past. Trainer Ollie Pears holds an 8 percent strike rate here from 430 runs while jockey Harry Russell is 5 percent from 99 rides. Recent form of -51444 shows he remains in the mix at this level and his course record from draw 8 makes him a definite player in a race where prominent tactics should suit.
Fierce KTB Fit 50/100
Fierce is a modest performer who has run well enough in two recent starts to suggest he remains competitive at this level. He has won over today's trip but is 0-2 at Beverley and has never placed here, while both trainer and jockey have modest strike rates at the track. Handles good to soft but has yet to win on it, with placed efforts from five runs. Recent form of 557-32 is encouraging and from draw 7 the Midgley runner can be expected to be involved in the finish under Tom Eaves.
The rest of the field
Jojo RabbitKTB Fit 48/100
Jojo Rabbit is a modest performer who has won once from six runs at Beverley and holds a solid record at today's trip with six wins from 45 starts. He acts on good to soft ground with a win and two places from five attempts. The yard's modest 9 percent strike rate here and the jockey's 7 percent record suggest they rarely strike at this venue.
Spirit Of ApplauseKTB Fit 48/100
Spirit Of Applause is a modest performer who has won once from four starts at Beverley and holds a solid 3-24 record at this trip. Recent form of 17433- suggests consistency at this level yet he has failed to place in four runs on good to soft ground. Trainer Tim Easterby has a 9 percent strike rate from over 2,000 runs at the track while claiming jockey Jake Dickson is 0-7 here.
BibendumKTB Fit 46/100
Bibendum is a limited performer who has been out of the frame on his last four starts and drops back to 5f today having last run over 6f. He has won at this trip but his record on good to soft is modest with no win or place from two starts. The trainer holds a solid 15 percent strike rate at Beverley yet the jockey is operating at just 4 percent here from 362 rides.
Dream DealKTB Fit 37/100
Dream Deal is a limited performer who has shown very little spark in two runs this year and looks up against it from stall 2. He drops back to 5f where he is 0-9 but has placed five times so the trip is not the issue. Tim Easterby has a modest 9 percent strike rate here from a huge sample while Duran Fentiman fares even worse at 6 percent.
Lord AbamaKTB Fit 35/100
Lord Abama is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time and finished well down the field on his three most recent starts. Only one previous run at Beverley resulted in an eighth and he is 0-3 on good to soft ground. He drops back to 5f today having failed to make an impact at that trip in two previous attempts.
KTB verdict
Miss Brazen is the KTB Selection. Her Beverley record, recent win at the track in May and the yard's solid 15 percent strike rate at the venue all point to her being ideally placed dropping in class. The Easterby operation's local knowledge and the fact she has already placed on good to soft add to the case. Main dangers are Azuinthejungle, who can go well fresh and boasts a good jockey record here, and Ay Gee Ell who brings consistent form and a strong Fahey presence at the track. Keldeo and Fierce are also likely to be in the mix given their course and distance credentials.
KTB Selection Miss Brazen
This is the narrative read of the 8:00 Beverley. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Beverley racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the best recent Beverley record among the principals?
Miss Brazen has won once from six starts at Beverley.
How does the good to soft going affect the leading contenders?
Miss Brazen is placed once from one run on good to soft, Azuinthejungle has one win from two, Keldeo is one from four with two places, while Ay Gee Ell is 0-3 with no placed effort and Fierce is placed twice from five without a win.
What are the course strike rates for the two Easterby trainers represented?
Michael & David Easterby have a 15 percent strike rate at Beverley with an A/E of 1.16, while Tim Easterby has a 9 percent strike rate with an A/E of 0.81 from 2362 runs.
Which runners are dropping in class or stepping up?
Miss Brazen is dropping in class, while Bibendum, Dream Deal and Lord Abama are all stepping up in class.
Which jockey has the strongest Beverley record in the field?
Faye McManoman has an 11 percent strike rate at Beverley with an A/E of 1.25 from 169 rides.
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