4:13 Ripon
The 4:13 at Ripon is the second division of a Class 4 handicap over 6f on soft ground, featuring a field of ten where the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top. The KTB numbers point to a race with several course winners and horses that have shown ability on soft ground, though recent form is mixed across the principals. With the pace shape indicating a lone leader likely to enjoy an uncontested advantage, the ability to close effectively from off the pace or capitalise on that uncontested lead will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, suggesting one horse will make the running with little pressure from others early on. Most of the field, including the top five in the KTB Fit rankings, are held-up types who produce their effort late, meaning they will be aiming to reel in the leader from the rear. This sets up a race where the uncontested lead could prove hard for closers to peg back on soft ground, posing the key question of whether any of the hold-up performers have the necessary finishing kick to overcome the leader's advantage.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Venture Capital KTB Selection63/100
Venture Capital is a fair performer who has won over this trip in the past but is stepping back up in distance having been campaigned mostly at 5f lately. He has solid course form with a win from a single run at Ripon and has shown some competitiveness on soft ground without winning. The Kevin Ryan-trained five-year-old is dropping in class from a draw of five, where his held-up run style should see him delivered late. Trainer and jockey both have established records at the track, with Ryan at 11% strike rate from 641 runs and Gray at 11% from 157 rides. Recent form of -87089 is modest, yet the KTB Fit of 63 and course win mark him out as the selection.
-
2Goyard60/100
Goyard is a fair performer who has won twice at this track from three runs and also has a win on soft ground from a single attempt. He steps up from 5f to a trip he has won over before, though his recent form of 5-3845 has been ordinary and he now tries first-time headgear. The David O'Meara-trained four-year-old is drawn four and his front-running style aligns perfectly with the lone-leader pace shape, which could hand him an uncontested lead that is often hard to peg back. O'Meara has a 15% strike rate at Ripon from 791 runs while Tudhope is strong at 21% from 483 rides. With a KTB Fit of 60, his course record and going affinity make him a major player.
-
3Almarada Prince57/100
Almarada Prince is a fair handicapper who has been consistent enough this year without winning, placing third and second in his last two starts. He has shown little at Ripon in two runs and is 0-2 on soft ground, though both negatives come from small samples. Drawn in stall one, which could be an advantage over 6f, the Paul Midgley-trained five-year-old has won at today's trip in the past and his held-up run style fits the shape of the race. Recent form of 666342 reflects that consistency. Trainer and jockey figures at the track are respectable, with Midgley at 10% strike rate from 453 runs.
-
4Here Forever52/100
Here Forever is a fair performer who won on his only previous visit to Ripon and has also scored at this trip. Recent form of 41-045 has been patchy with three modest efforts since that last success. The David & Nicola Barron-trained three-year-old is unproven on soft ground with no previous runs, yet his held-up style should see him coming from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time. Trainer has a 12% strike rate at Ripon from 43 runs while the horse's course win adds interest from draw eight. With a KTB Fit of 52 he remains capable on his best day.
-
5Fortamour50/100
Fortamour is a modest performer with a solid record at this track, winning five times from 26 runs here. He drops back to his favoured 6f trip today after a recent 7f run, though his last six efforts have been poor. The Ben Haslam-trained ten-year-old has won once from eight starts on soft ground and his held-up run style is in keeping with most of the field. Trainer has an 11% strike rate at Ripon from 149 runs while jockey Mulrennan is at 12% from 604 rides. Recent form of 600270 is uninspiring, but the KTB Fit of 50 and course prowess cannot be ignored.
-
6Farandaway50/100
Farandaway is a modest performer with a solid recent record of 121262 that shows consistency without much depth. He has won over today's 6f trip but is unproven on soft ground after just one run on it and makes a first appearance at Ripon, with trainer Grant Tuer holding an 11% strike rate here from 136 runs.
-
7First Folio49/100
First Folio is a modest performer who has placed three times from four runs at Ripon without winning. He has won at this trip in the past but is 0-2 on soft ground and his recent form of -46047 has been ordinary, though trainer Julie Camacho has a solid 11% strike-rate at the track.
-
8Mister Sox48/100
Mister Sox is a modest performer who has won twice at Ripon from nine runs and also has a solid record at this trip. He acts on soft ground with one win and three places from ten attempts, and trainer Tim Easterby has a 10% strike rate from a huge 2418 runs at the track.
-
9Wobwobwob47/100
Wobwobwob is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts this year. He has shown some ability at this track and on soft ground but looks vulnerable again from a wide draw, despite trainer Adrian Keatley having a solid 16% strike rate at Ripon.
-
10Educating Rita35/100
Educating Rita is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of poor efforts. She has won over today's trip but only placed once from four runs on soft ground and showed little when well beaten on her only previous visit to Ripon, with the trainer's modest 6% strike rate at the track adding little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Venture Capital is the KTB Selection. He brings solid course form with a win from his only start at Ripon, has shown competitiveness on soft ground, and is dropping in class while stepping back up to a trip he has won over before. His held-up style should allow him to be produced late against the expected lone leader. The main dangers are Goyard, who could take the uncontested lead and boasts a strong course record plus a win on soft, and Almarada Prince, whose consistency and favourable draw in stall one give him a solid chance to close effectively.
KTB Selection Venture Capital
This is the narrative read of the 4:13 Ripon. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ripon racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Ripon results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is likely to take the uncontested lead according to the pace shape?
Goyard is the front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence.
How many course wins does Fortamour have at Ripon?
Five wins from 26 runs.
What is the KTB Fit score for the selection Venture Capital?
63/100.
Which runners are held up according to their run-style?
Venture Capital, Almarada Prince, Here Forever, Fortamour, Farandaway, First Folio, Mister Sox, Wobwobwob and Educating Rita are all held up.
Has Goyard won on soft ground before?
Yes, one win from one run on soft.
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