5:40 Brighton
A Class 6 handicap over an extended mile and three furlongs at Brighton on good ground brings together eight limited performers in a steadily-run, tactical affair. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Clipsham Noble heading the numbers on 61, followed by Bug Boy on 56, La Trinite on 54 and Gretna Dreams on 53. With no obvious leader in a field where every runner is inclined to be held up, the race is likely to hinge on timing and positioning in what looks a modest contest.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lack of any natural front-runner, pointing to a steadily-run race in which being handy to the pace could prove advantageous. Every horse in the field is described as held up, suggesting the early fractions will be modest and the race will develop into a tactical test from the home turn. The key question is which of these late runners can produce their effort at the right moment on a track where course form is a significant factor for several.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Clipsham Noble KTB Selection61/100
Clipsham Noble is a limited performer who has been in and out of form this year with a recent pattern of 414614. He has won once from five runs at Brighton and the trainer holds a strong 60% strike-rate here from a small but positive sample. Stepping up in trip is an unknown for him today though he has won at this distance before while his record on good ground is only placed once from four starts without a victory. The four-year-old is held up and usually produces its effort late. Charlie Clover and Liam Wright combine with a trainer-jockey record of 6/21 (29%) and an A/E of 1.49, underlining the positive trainer course figures.
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2Bug Boy56/100
Bug Boy is a limited performer who has been largely out of form this year with two modest efforts. He does have a solid course record here including a win from three runs and has also won at today's trip five times from 26 starts. On good ground he has shown ability with two wins and two places from eight runs. The ten-year-old is held up and usually produces its effort late. Taryn Langley takes the ride while the trainer has no Brighton record from a small sample of two runs.
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3La Trinite54/100
La Trinite is a limited performer who has shown consistent placed form this year, including a second over course and distance on her only visit to Brighton. She acts on good ground though her two runs on it have produced no win or place, and she is proven at this trip without having won. Trainer Neil King has a strong 25% strike rate from eight runs at the track while Charles Bishop is 0-3 here. The four-year-old is held up and usually produces its effort late. The trainer and jockey combination stands at 0/7 (0%).
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4Gretna Dreams53/100
Gretna Dreams is a limited performer who has won once in two runs at Brighton. Steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this distance. Trainer maintains a solid 18% strike-rate here from a big sample. The four-year-old is held up and usually produces its effort late. Stuart Williams and Harry Vigors combine with a trainer-jockey record of 2/12 (17%) and an A/E of 0.96.
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5Foinix44/100
Foinix is a limited performer who has won twice at Brighton from 11 runs and also has a solid record at this trip with four wins from 25 starts. Recent form of 773217 shows he can be competitive in this grade yet he is 0-4 on good ground with no placed efforts. The yard records a 10% strike rate here from 50 runs.
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6Highland Harvey43/100
Highland Harvey is a limited performer who has shown some consistency this year with a win and several placed efforts. He has been placed both starts at Brighton and has won at today's trip, though he is 0-4 on good ground. Trainer has only a tiny sample here so that side remains unproven.
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7Fitzmaurice36/100
Fitzmaurice is a limited performer who has shown the odd flash of ability but remains winless after 15 runs. Has placed once in two runs at Brighton and the yard know the track well with a solid 13% strike rate here, yet his only try on good ground brought no joy and he now steps up markedly in trip as an unknown. Silvestre De Sousa takes the ride on a horse whose recent form has been ordinary at best.
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8Winston's Oath36/100
Winston's Oath is a limited performer who has shown only modest form in three runs this year. First-time headgear is now fitted as he steps up in trip for the first time, which asks a fresh question of him on ground he has failed to place on in four previous tries. Trainer James Owen has a solid 26% strike rate at Brighton from 42 runs. He is dropping in class.
KTB verdict
Clipsham Noble is the KTB Selection. He brings the highest Fit Score in a race full of limited performers, has already won at Brighton, and is trained by Charlie Clover who boasts a 60% strike rate at the track. The step up in trip is an unknown but he has won at the distance before, and the combination with Liam Wright looks well placed in a steadily-run affair where his late effort can be timed to advantage. The main dangers are Bug Boy, who has a good course record and proven stamina on good ground, La Trinite who was second over course and distance on her sole visit to Brighton, and Gretna Dreams who has also tasted success here.
KTB Selection Clipsham Noble
This is the narrative read of the 5:40 Brighton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Brighton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Brighton results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest trainer record at Brighton?
Clipsham Noble's trainer Charlie Clover has a 60% strike rate at Brighton with an A/E of 1.67 from five runs.
How many horses in the field have previously won at Brighton?
Clipsham Noble, Bug Boy, Gretna Dreams and Foinix have all won at Brighton.
What is the pace profile of the race and how does it affect the runners?
The race lacks a leader and is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays; every runner is held up.
Which runner is making its first attempt in first-time headgear?
Winston's Oath is fitted with first-time headgear.
Who has the best recent course and distance form at Brighton?
La Trinite finished second over course and distance on her only visit to Brighton.
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