2:55 Ripon
This Class 4 handicap over six furlongs at Ripon features a maximum field of 20 runners on good ground. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Grant Wood heading the list on 60, followed closely by Mythical Composer on 59 and a trio on 57. With a dropping-in-class profile for the selection and several others, plus a strong pace expected to test the field, the race looks competitive and likely to reward those who handle the track and the late kick required.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Magic Boy and Kats Bob. This should set the race up for hold-up types, many of whom are clustered in the principals and wider field, with the pace potentially collapsing late. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate terms or if the race will fall apart to the benefit of those coming from off the pace, especially given the high confidence in the pace shape assessment.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Grant Wood KTB Selection60/100Grant Wood is a fair handicapper who knows his way around Ripon, winning once from six starts here.
- 2Mythical Composer59/100Fair performer who has won over this trip but has looked out of sorts on both starts this season.
- 3Roach Power57/100Roach Power is a fair performer with a solid course record here, having won one of two starts at Ripon.
- 4Glory Hyde57/100Glory Hyde is a fair performer with a solid record here, having won two of his four runs at Ripon.
- 5Magic Boy57/100Fair performer who has run well over this trip at Ripon on both previous visits, finishing second each time.
- 6Kats Bob54/100Kats Bob is a fair handicapper who has been placed twice from four runs at Ripon and has won eight times at this trip.
- 7Westmorian54/100Westmorian is a fair performer who has won five times at this trip from 31 attempts and has placed twice from seven starts on good ground.
- 8Emperor Caradoc54/100Modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning.
- 9Woodstock54/100Woodstock is a fair performer who has been consistent this year without winning, including a second here over 7f last season.
- 10Beyond Borders54/100Modest performer who has been in and out of form this year and ran to a similar level when sixth at Doncaster last time.
- 11Anaisa54/100Anaisa is a fair performer who has won over this trip and shown she handles good ground with two wins from seven starts.
- 12Go Vince Go53/100Fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning often, landing just two of his 17 starts.
- 13Mark's Choice52/100Modest performer who has won eight times at Ripon from 24 runs and also has six wins from 21 starts on good ground.
- 14Dorney Lake52/100Modest performer with a solid recent record that includes two wins from his last six starts.
- 15Roberto Caro51/100Roberto Caro is a fair performer who has been consistent enough in recent months without winning.
- 16Mister Sox50/100Modest performer who has won twice at this track from eight runs and also has five wins at this trip from 25 attempts.
- 17Who Wants Me48/100Modest performer who has won twice this year but ran no sort of race last time.
- 18Vince L'Amour47/100Modest performer with a mixed record of late and only one win in the last two seasons.
- 19Tolstoy44/100Tolstoy is a modest performer who has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 20Educating Rita40/100Modest performer who has shown little spark in two runs this year after a lengthy break.
The contenders
Grant Wood KTB Fit 60/100
Grant Wood is a fair handicapper who knows his way around Ripon, having won once from six starts here. He has a solid record at this trip with five wins from 29 attempts and has placed on good ground four times from 12 starts, though his recent form of 830004 is patchy. The trainer holds a 10% strike rate from 449 runs at the track while jockey Jason Hart posts 14% from 332 rides. Dropping in class from a draw of 7, he is usually held up and produces his effort late with medium confidence in that assessment. As the KTB Selection he brings course-winning form and a respectable placed record on the going to a race where hold-up horses are favoured.
Mythical Composer KTB Fit 59/100
Mythical Composer is a fair performer who has won over this trip but has looked out of sorts on both starts this season. First run at Ripon and first time in headgear add unknowns while the wide draw in stall 15 is far from ideal. Trainer and jockey both have solid records at the track, with the trainer on 14% from 28 runs and the jockey on 17% from 12 rides. Usually held up with high confidence, he has been placed once from five starts on good ground without winning. His KTB Fit of 59 leaves him just behind the selection in a race where the strong pace could suit his late run if he can overcome the draw.
Roach Power KTB Fit 57/100
Roach Power is a fair performer with a solid course record here, having won one of two starts at Ripon. He steps up from 5f to 6f today, a distance at which he has won once from 20 attempts, and he acts on good ground with three wins and seven places from 14 runs. The trainer has a modest 6% strike rate from 17 runs at the track while the jockey fares better with a 13% record from 76 rides. Usually held up with high confidence, he is dropping in class from draw 16. His recent form of 0-0974 is modest but the course win adds interest in a contest where hold-up runners should be advantaged by the expected strong pace.
Glory Hyde KTB Fit 57/100
Glory Hyde is a fair performer with a solid record here, having won two of his four runs at Ripon. He has struck at this trip five times from 20 starts and holds a respectable three wins from 11 runs on good ground. The yard's modest 10% strike rate at the track is offset by the jockey's stronger 16% record from 121 rides. Usually held up with high confidence from a wide draw of 19, he arrives with recent form of 511109 that includes useful efforts. The course wins make him a notable player in a race where the strong pace is likely to favour those coming from off it.
Magic Boy KTB Fit 57/100
Magic Boy is a fair performer who has run well over this trip at Ripon on both previous visits, finishing second each time. He has won on good ground and at today's distance, though his recent form has been a bit up and down. The trainer's modest strike rate here is offset by the jockey's solid record at the track, with the 3lb claimer posting 16% from 45 rides. Tending to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence, he will be to the fore in what is expected to be a strong pace. His placed course form at the trip leaves him with place claims if he can see it out.
The rest of the field
Kats BobKTB Fit 54/100
Kats Bob is a fair handicapper who has been placed twice from four runs at Ripon and has won eight times at this trip. He has shown his best form when in the frame on good ground and the first-time headgear is an interesting addition after two placed efforts on his last three starts. The yard has a solid record at the track while the jockey's strike-rate here is more modest. A front-runner with high confidence, he will be prominent early in a race with a strong pace likely.
WestmorianKTB Fit 54/100
Westmorian is a fair performer who has won five times at this trip from 31 attempts and has placed twice from seven starts on good ground. He has been below form on his last four starts and his two runs here produced no better than mid-division finishes. The trainer holds a solid 11% strike rate at Ripon while the jockey is still seeking a first winner from 40 rides at the track. Usually held up with high confidence.
Emperor CaradocKTB Fit 54/100
Emperor Caradoc is a modest performer who has been consistent enough this year without winning. Placed once from two runs at Ripon and has shown he handles good ground, while the return to this trip is a plus having won four times over it. First-time headgear is now added. Usually held up with high confidence from a low draw.
WoodstockKTB Fit 54/100
Woodstock is a fair performer who has been consistent this year without winning, including a second here over 7f last season. He drops back to 6f where he has placed once from three starts, while first-time headgear is now tried to sharpen him up. The trainer has a solid 12% strike rate at Ripon from a big sample and the jockey is operating at 14%. Usually held up with high confidence and dropping in class.
Beyond BordersKTB Fit 54/100
Beyond Borders is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year and ran to a similar level when sixth at Doncaster last time. Has a placed effort from four runs at this track though the other three runs were poor, while he has won once from 12 starts on good ground. Trainer and jockey both have solid records at Ripon. Usually held up with medium confidence and stepping up in class.
AnaisaKTB Fit 54/100
Anaisa is a fair performer who has won over this trip and shown she handles good ground with two wins from seven starts. She has already won once from three runs at Ripon and steps back up to 6f having last run over 5½f. First-time headgear is now added while both trainer and jockey have modest but established records at the track. Usually held up with high confidence.
Go Vince GoKTB Fit 53/100
Go Vince Go is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning often, landing just two of his 17 starts. He steps up to 6f for the first time since recording both career victories at the trip, which looks a positive, and he has shown he handles good ground. The yard and jockey both have solid records at Ripon though this is the horse's first run here. Usually held up with high confidence.
Mark's ChoiceKTB Fit 52/100
Mark's Choice is a modest performer who has won eight times at Ripon from 24 runs and also has six wins from 21 starts on good ground. He has won at this trip as well and the first-time headgear is an interesting addition given his recent form of 062436. Trainer Gemma Tutty has a solid 16% strike rate here from 38 runs while jockey Jason Watson is operating at 10% from 60 rides. Usually held up with high confidence and stepping up in class.
Dorney LakeKTB Fit 52/100
Dorney Lake is a modest performer with a solid recent record that includes two wins from his last six starts. He has won at this trip and handles good ground, though the wide draw in stall 20 adds a negative here. First-time headgear is an unknown and the trainer's modest 10% strike rate at Ripon is offset by the jockey's stronger 15% record at the track. Usually held up with high confidence and stepping up in class.
Roberto CaroKTB Fit 51/100
Roberto Caro is a fair performer who has been consistent enough in recent months without winning. He has course form here at Ripon and the trainer posts a solid 16% strike rate at the track, though the jockey is still seeking a first winner from six rides. First-time headgear is now applied as he steps back up to a trip he has won at three times before. Usually held up with high confidence.
Mister SoxKTB Fit 50/100
Mister Sox is a modest performer who has won twice at this track from eight runs and also has five wins at this trip from 25 attempts. He has four wins from 13 starts on good ground and the first-time headgear is an interesting addition after a string of ordinary efforts. Trainer has a solid 10% strike rate here from a huge sample while the jockey is operating above expectations at the track. Usually held up with high confidence from the inside draw.
Who Wants MeKTB Fit 48/100
Who Wants Me is a modest performer who has won twice this year but ran no sort of race last time. First time headgear is now fitted and he has shown he handles good ground with a win and three places from seven starts. Trip looks about right having been placed at six furlongs without winning. Usually held up with high confidence.
Vince L'AmourKTB Fit 47/100
Vince L'Amour is a modest performer with a mixed record of late and only one win in the last two seasons. Has won twice over this course but is stepping back up to 6f having looked stretched at the trip previously, while the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer and jockey both have established but below-average records at Ripon. Usually held up with medium confidence and stepping up in class.
TolstoyKTB Fit 44/100
Tolstoy is a modest performer who has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He has won over today's trip but only once from 21 attempts and his record on good ground is equally modest. The trainer has a 7% strike rate at Ripon from 216 runs while the jockey is 5% from 58 rides here. Usually held up with high confidence.
Educating RitaKTB Fit 40/100
Educating Rita is a modest performer who has shown little spark in two runs this year after a lengthy break. She has won over today's trip but her overall strike rate is poor and the yard's record here is modest. Jockey is similarly quiet at Ripon with a 3% strike rate from 237 rides. Usually held up with high confidence.
KTB verdict
Grant Wood is the KTB Selection. A fair handicapper with a win at this course from six starts and a solid record at the trip, he drops in class from a workable draw and should be suited by the strong pace that is likely to collapse late. His hold-up style fits the shape of the race well and the trainer-jockey combination has a positive record at Ripon. Main dangers include Mythical Composer, who brings a similar late-run profile despite the wide draw and first-time headgear, and the course winners Roach Power and Glory Hyde, both of whom are also hold-up types with good records on good ground at this venue. Magic Boy will go forward and test the pace, while several of the field runners with first-time headgear and course form add depth to a competitive heat.
KTB Selection Grant Wood
This is the narrative read of the 2:55 Ripon. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ripon racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Magic Boy tends to make the running or race on the pace, as does Kats Bob with high confidence in that assessment.
Why is the race expected to favour hold-up horses?
The pace shape indicates a strong pace is likely with two or more habitual front-runners, which could collapse late and favour hold-up horses.
Which runners have course wins at Ripon?
Grant Wood has won here once from six starts, Roach Power once from two, Glory Hyde twice from four, Anaisa once from three, Mark's Choice eight times from 24, Mister Sox twice from eight and Vince L'Amour twice from seven.
How many of the principals are usually held up?
Four of the five principals are usually held up: Grant Wood with medium confidence, and Mythical Composer, Roach Power and Glory Hyde with high confidence. Magic Boy is the exception as a front-runner.
Which horses are wearing first-time headgear?
Mythical Composer, Kats Bob, Emperor Caradoc, Woodstock, Anaisa, Mark's Choice, Dorney Lake, Roberto Caro, Mister Sox, Who Wants Me and Vince L'Amour are all in first-time headgear.
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