8:00 Wolverhampton (AW)
This Class 6 handicap division at Wolverhampton over 7f36y on standard ground brings together a field of ten three-year-olds where ability is generally modest. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Musical Soldier just ahead on 55, Based a close second on 54 and three others on 50 or 49, underlining how little separates the principals on the numbers. With the pace shape rated unclear and low confidence in run-style data, the race lacks a clear map and could develop in several ways.
How the race shapes up
Run-style information is limited across the ten runners, leaving the pace shape unclear and any forecast of how the race will be run tentative. Musical Soldier is usually held up and delivers late, while Ten Cuidado tends to race prominently, yet the rest of the field supplies insufficient evidence to judge whether the early fractions will be strong, even or slow. The key question is whether the race develops into a test that suits those coming from off the pace or those handy to a potential sprint finish, with the first-time headgear on several runners adding another layer of uncertainty to how they will settle.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Musical Soldier KTB Selection55/100Limited horse who has shown enough at this track to win once from three starts here.
- 2Based54/100Limited on overall ability but has already shown enough at this track and trip to make him competitive in a Class 6.
- 3Ten Cuidado50/100Limited performer who has shown little since a modest fourth here over 6f last summer.
- 4Oh So Perfect50/100Limited horse who has shown improved form of late with two wins in the last three starts including one at this trip.
- 5Neat And Tidy49/100Limited performer who has shown very little in four starts at this trip.
- 6Fullstop46/100Limited horse who has shown only modest form in six starts since a debut win.
- 7Magic Lady Mae45/100Modest performer who has been below form on her last two starts after showing some promise earlier.
- 8Dusk Damsel43/100Dusk Damsel is a limited filly who has shown only modest form in six starts.
- 9Electrocution39/100Limited performer who has won once here over this trip on standard ground.
- 10Crown The Future38/100Crown The Future is a limited performer who has shown his best at this track, winning once from four runs here.
The contenders
Musical Soldier KTB Fit 55/100
Musical Soldier is a limited performer who has nevertheless shown enough at Wolverhampton to win once from three starts at the track. He has also placed on standard ground and scored at this trip, though his recent form figures of 152022 highlight that consistency remains an issue. First-time headgear is now applied in the hope of sharpening him up. The yard posts a 17% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 109 runs with an A/E of 1.1, while Jack Callan has a 16% strike rate at the track from 57 rides with an A/E of 0.95. He has won once and been placed once from four runs on standard going and is the KTB Selection.
Based KTB Fit 54/100
Based is limited on overall ability yet has already shown enough at this track and trip to make him a live contender in a Class 6. He won over course and distance in February and followed up with a solid second here last month, although his latest seventh was disappointing. The yard holds a 15% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 273 runs with an A/E of 0.88, and the trainer-jockey combination shows 8 wins from 71 rides for an 11% strike rate and A/E of 0.82. Cieren Fallon, who has a 13% strike rate at the track from 408 rides with an A/E of 0.75, takes the mount. He holds a 1 win and 2 places from 3 runs on standard ground and a win from 2 starts at the course.
Ten Cuidado KTB Fit 50/100
Ten Cuidado is a limited performer who has shown little since a modest fourth here over 6f last summer. Dropping back from a mile to a trip he has already tried three times without success raises fresh questions, while first-time headgear is another unknown on just his sixth start. The trainer posts an 8% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 1198 runs with an A/E of 0.84. Rose Dawes has a 17% strike rate at the track from 42 rides with an A/E of 1.65 and the trainer-jockey partnership is 3 from 20 for 15% with an A/E of 1.10. He has had 3 runs on standard ground without winning or placing and has recorded a 7th and a 4th from two visits to the course.
Oh So Perfect KTB Fit 50/100
Oh So Perfect is a limited horse who has shown improved form of late with two wins in the last three starts, one of them at this trip. He has been placed once from three runs here and possesses a solid record on standard going with two wins and four places from eight starts. The yard's 11% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 1856 runs carries an A/E of 0.83 and the trainer-jockey partnership shows 260 wins from 2307 rides for an 11% strike rate and A/E of 0.87. Alistair Rawlinson has a 12% strike rate at the track from 582 rides with an A/E of 0.96. Recent form reads 7-3311 and he has recorded a 3rd, 7th and 5th from three course visits.
Neat And Tidy KTB Fit 49/100
Neat And Tidy is a limited performer who has shown very little in four starts at this trip. She ran no better than midfield on her only visit to Wolverhampton and the recent form figures of 559-0 offer no encouragement. The yard holds a 17% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 502 runs with an A/E of 0.92. Donagh Murphy has a 10% strike rate at the track from 30 rides with an A/E of 0.66 and the trainer-jockey partnership is 4 from 45 for 9% with an A/E of 0.64. She has had two runs on standard ground without winning or placing and finished 11th on her sole course start.
The rest of the field
FullstopKTB Fit 46/100
Fullstop is a limited horse who has shown only modest form in six starts since a debut win. He steps up from 6f to 7f today having placed once at the trip without winning and first-time headgear is now applied. The trainer records a 5% strike rate from 266 runs at Wolverhampton with an A/E of 0.78.
Magic Lady MaeKTB Fit 45/100
Magic Lady Mae is a modest performer who has been below form on her last two starts after showing some promise earlier. She has placed once at this trip from two attempts and holds solid course connections through the yard even if the trainer's 5% strike rate from 43 runs at Wolverhampton with an A/E of 0.4 is modest. She has been placed once from four runs on standard ground.
Dusk DamselKTB Fit 43/100
Dusk Damsel is a limited filly who has shown only modest form in six starts. She has twice run respectably here without threatening to win and has failed to place in three attempts at this trip. The trainer's 9% strike rate at Wolverhampton from 926 runs with an A/E of 0.84 adds little encouragement and she has been placed once from five runs on standard ground.
ElectrocutionKTB Fit 39/100
Electrocution is a limited performer who has won once here over this trip on standard ground. Recent form has been modest and first-time headgear is now needed to spark improvement. The trainer's 9% strike rate at the track from 244 runs with an A/E of 0.81 adds little encouragement and he holds a 1 win and 3 places from 10 starts on standard going.
Crown The FutureKTB Fit 38/100
Crown The Future is a limited performer who has shown his best at this track, winning once from four runs here. He drops back to 7f today after a poor effort over 1m last time, a trip at which he has won once from four starts. The trainer's 10% strike rate from 3023 runs at Wolverhampton with an A/E of 0.81 suggests no strong yard bias either way and he holds a 1 win and 1 place from 6 starts on standard ground.
KTB verdict
The tightly packed KTB Fit Scores at the head of the market point to a competitive Class 6 heat where small margins could prove decisive. Musical Soldier is named the selection having already shown enough at Wolverhampton to win once from three starts at the track, with placed form on standard ground and a win at this trip to his name; the first-time headgear is a logical move for a horse whose recent form of 152022 has lacked consistency. Based is the most obvious danger, having won over course and distance earlier this year and run a solid second here last month despite a disappointing latest effort. Oh So Perfect enters in good heart after two wins in his last three starts and cannot be dismissed, while the remainder of the field look limited and harder to fancy on the supplied evidence.
KTB Selection Musical Soldier
This is the narrative read of the 8:00 Wolverhampton (AW). For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wolverhampton (AW) racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest KTB Fit Score and is the selection?
Musical Soldier on 55/100.
How many wins has Musical Soldier had at Wolverhampton?
One win from three starts at the course.
What is Based's course and distance record at Wolverhampton?
Won over course and distance in February and has a win from two starts at the course.
Which principals are wearing first-time headgear?
Musical Soldier and Ten Cuidado.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Wolverhampton for the yard of Oh So Perfect?
11% strike rate from 1856 runs with an A/E of 0.83.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies