8:00 Beverley
A modest Class 6 handicap over 7f96y at Beverley on good to firm ground brings together a field of nine limited performers, several of whom are reaching for first-time headgear in the hope of finding improvement. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with four horses rated between 53 and 54, underlining how little separates them on paper. Course form will be important here, as will the ability to handle the trip and the prevailing ground.
How the race shapes up
The race is likely to be run at an ordinary gallop with no obvious front-runner declared. African Spirit from stall 1 and Ice Show from stall 2 could track the pace early, while several others including King Sharja and Walk On Walk On are expected to come from mid-division or later. The key question is whether the first-time headgear on so many runners will sharpen them enough to take advantage of a potential steady pace, or whether the few with previous course form can dominate late on.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1King Sharja54/100King Sharja is a limited handicapper who has won three times at Beverley from ten runs and also has a solid record on good to firm ground with three wins from s…
- 2African Spirit54/100Limited horse who has shown only modest form on his three starts this year.
- 3Ice Show KTB Selection54/100Limited performer who has shown little in four starts and now drops back from 1m1½f to 7f.
- 4Walk On Walk On53/100Limited performer who has shown bits of ability on this track and trip.
- 5Itszaboy46/100Limited horse who has shown very little in six starts and was beaten 11 lengths when sixth of eight over course and distance on his most recent outing.
- 6Back From Dubai45/100Limited performer who has won once in four runs at Beverley.
- 7Ryefield45/100Limited performer who has shown little in eight starts and steps up from 5.5f for the first time today.
- 8Alice's Influence39/100Limited horse who has been consistent in recent runs but remains winless after ten starts.
- 9Bantz38/100Limited performer who has failed to place in three runs at Beverley and arrives on the back of three modest efforts this year.
The contenders
King Sharja KTB Fit 54/100
King Sharja is a limited handicapper who has won three times at Beverley from ten runs and also has a solid record on good to firm ground with three wins from seven attempts. He has won at today's trip as well yet his recent form has been patchy with a string of modest efforts after two placed runs earlier in the year. The yard's modest 9% strike rate at the track adds a note of caution. James Sullivan takes the ride for Ruth Carr, whose trainer-jockey combination shows a 9% strike rate from 3,886 rides.
African Spirit KTB Fit 54/100
African Spirit is a limited horse who has shown only modest form on his three starts this year. He drops back to 7f having won at the trip earlier in his career and is tried in first-time headgear from stall 1. Trainer Ian Williams has a 10% strike rate from 51 runs at Beverley while Cieren Fallon is 0-9 at the track. His placed effort on good to firm ground from a single attempt suggests he can be competitive on the surface.
Ice Show KTB Fit 54/100
Ice Show is a limited performer who has shown little in four starts and now drops back from 1m1½f to 7f. First-time headgear is tried in a bid to spark improvement from stall 2. Trainer David O'Meara has a 15% strike rate from 675 runs at Beverley, while Rowan Scott's record at the track stands at 10%. The step down in class is another positive for this three-year-old.
Walk On Walk On KTB Fit 53/100
Walk On Walk On is a limited performer who has shown bits of ability on this track and trip. Placed on both previous visits to Beverley including a second here last time and has also finished in the frame twice on good to firm ground. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard's modest 7% strike rate at the track offers little encouragement. Ryan Sexton rides for Noel Wilson, whose trainer-jockey figures read 0 from 13 rides.
The rest of the field
ItszaboyKTB Fit 46/100
Itszaboy is a limited horse who has shown very little in six starts and was beaten 11 lengths when sixth of eight over course and distance on his most recent outing. Drops back from 1m today having failed to make the frame in three previous attempts at this trip. First-time headgear is reached for while the yard's modest 7% strike rate at Beverley comes from a very large sample of 947 runs.
Back From DubaiKTB Fit 45/100
Back From Dubai is a limited performer who has won once in four runs at Beverley. Drops back to 7f having last run over a mile and owns a solid record at today's trip with three wins from 16 attempts. Has never placed on good to firm ground from six starts.
RyefieldKTB Fit 45/100
Ryefield is a limited performer who has shown little in eight starts and steps up from 5.5f for the first time today. First-time headgear is tried and the yard has a modest 7% strike rate at Beverley from 123 runs. Going form is unproven on good to firm.
Alice's InfluenceKTB Fit 39/100
Alice's Influence is a limited horse who has been consistent in recent runs but remains winless after ten starts. Drops back to 7f having failed to land a blow at the trip twice before while the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer's modest 9 percent strike rate at Beverley adds little encouragement.
BantzKTB Fit 38/100
Bantz is a limited performer who has failed to place in three runs at Beverley and arrives on the back of three modest efforts this year. First-time headgear is tried in a bid to spark some improvement but the yard's modest 6% strike-rate here offers little encouragement. Has won on good to firm and at today's trip yet overall form remains weak.
KTB verdict
The KTB Selection is Ice Show. Dropping in class, equipped with first-time headgear and drawn low, this three-year-old represents the trainer with the strongest strike rate at Beverley among those represented and could be ideally placed to capitalise if the race develops into a test of speed from a steady gallop. King Sharja brings the best course record and proven good to firm form, making him the most obvious danger, while Walk On Walk On's placed efforts at the track cannot be ignored. African Spirit is another with headgear and a low draw that could see him involved if the new headgear works.
KTB Selection Ice Show
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 strongest course record at Beverley?
King Sharja, who has won three times from ten runs at the track.
How many of the field are wearing first-time headgear?
Six horses are tried in first-time headgear: African Spirit, Ice Show, Walk On Walk On, Itszaboy, Ryefield and Alice's Influence.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Beverley in this race?
David O'Meara with a 15% strike rate from 675 runs.
Which horse has the most wins on good to firm ground?
King Sharja, with three wins from seven attempts on good to firm.
What is the trip for the race and how does it compare to recent runs for the selection?
The race is over 7f96y; Ice Show drops back from 1m1½f.
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