3:28 Ripon
This Class 2 handicap over six furlongs at Ripon brings together a dozen useful performers on good ground, with the KTB Fit scores tightly bunched at the top end. The principals are headed by Trefor on a mark of 62, closely followed by Dark Thirty, Indian Run, Dark Cloud Rising and Eye of Dubai, all rated in the mid-to-high 50s. Course form is a significant factor at this venue and several runners bring prior success or placed efforts here, while the overall standard suggests a competitive renewal where the ability to handle a strong pace will be decisive.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners declared, including I'm Next and Dark Thirty, the pace shape is strongly positive and a solid gallop is anticipated from early on. Prominent racers such as Dark Cloud Rising are likely to track that pace, while the majority of the field, including the selection Trefor from a midfield position and hold-up performers like Indian Run, Eye of Dubai and several others, will be settling further back. The key question is whether the strong pace will cause the leaders to fold in the final furlong, handing the advantage to those delivered with a late run from off the speed.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Trefor KTB Selection62/100
Trefor is a useful performer with a solid record at this trip, including seven wins from 20 starts, though he steps back up from his latest 5½f run. He has already won here from one run at Ripon and holds a good record on good ground with two wins and three places from seven attempts. The Charles Hills yard posts a 21% strike rate here while Oisin Orr adds to the positive course connections. Rated with a KTB Fit of 62, he settles typically in midfield which could prove ideal if the anticipated strong pace collapses late. His recent form of 040010 includes a win, and he is taken to put it all together in what looks a suitable race.
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2Dark Thirty61/100
Dark Thirty is a useful performer who has been in and out of form this season but showed his ability with a second over course and distance on his only visit to Ripon. He has a solid record on good ground and has won at this trip, though his recent efforts include some modest displays. The Quinn yard has a respectable 13% strike rate here from 40 runs. With a KTB Fit of 61 he tends to make the running or race prominently, which will put him right in the thick of what is expected to be a strong pace. His form figures of 212003 underline both his capability and his inconsistency.
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3Indian Run59/100
Indian Run is a useful performer who has been in decent nick this year with three wins from his last eight starts. He has won over this trip and handles good ground, though the wide draw in stall 12 adds a complication. Camacho has an 11% strike rate here from 94 runs while Sexton is making his first ride at the track. Rated 59 on the KTB Fit scale, he is usually held up and produces his effort late, a style that could be well suited if the strong pace takes its toll on those up front. Recent form of 892133 shows he is competitive at this level.
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4Dark Cloud Rising57/100
Dark Cloud Rising is a useful performer who has won over this trip and at this track. Recent form is mixed with a win and a second from his last six starts but he has been consistent enough in stronger company than this. Trainer and jockey both have solid records here and the horse acts on good ground. Stepping up in class with a KTB Fit of 57, he usually races handily on or close to the lead which will see him prominent in a race where a strong pace is forecast. His course record stands at one win from three starts.
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5Eye of Dubai54/100
Eye of Dubai is a fair performer who has won twice from four starts at Ripon and also has four wins from 27 runs at this trip. He showed his best form when winning last time out but his recent form figures of 008001 highlight plenty of lesser efforts along the way. The Quinns have a 13% strike-rate at the track while Hart is aboard. With a KTB Fit of 54 he is usually held up and produces his effort late, which aligns with the expectation that the race could fall apart late in favour of hold-up horses. He has course-and-distance winning form.
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6I'm Next49/100
I'm Next is a fair handicapper who has been in and out of form this year but showed his ability with a second over course and distance on his penultimate start. He acts on good ground and has placed twice from five runs at this trip, though he is yet to win at the distance. The yard's modest 10% strike-rate at Ripon is worth noting.
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7Another Baar48/100
Another Baar is a fair performer who has won three times from 11 runs at Ripon and also has a solid record at this trip with four wins from 21 attempts. He has won once from 12 starts on good ground with three placings and the yard holds a 16% strike rate at the track from 83 runs. Recent form of 060707 suggests he is out of form at present.
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8Yes I'm Mali48/100
Yes I'm Mali is a fair performer who won over course and distance on his only visit to Ripon. He has dropped back to his winning trip today having looked stretched by 7f last time, though his record on good ground is only modest with just two wins from 12 starts. The yard continue in solid form at this track with a 15% strike rate from a large sample.
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9Beaujolais Nouveau48/100
Beaujolais Nouveau is a fair performer who has won over this trip in the past but is stepping back up to 6f today after his last run over 5f. He has course experience here at Ripon with one win from five runs and holds a solid record on good ground with two wins and seven places from 13 starts. The trainer has an 11% strike rate from 149 runs at the track while the jockey is aboard.
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10Schrodinger's Cat48/100
Schrodinger's Cat is a useful performer who has run well at this track before, finishing second here on his only visit. He has shown mixed form this year though and steps up in trip for the first time today having failed to win in two previous attempts at 6f. The yard has a solid 12% strike rate at Ripon from a big sample.
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11U Sure Do45/100
U Sure Do is a fair performer who won on his only previous visit to Ripon and has scored twice at this trip. He has three wins from ten runs on good ground and drops back from 7f today having looked as though the extra furlong stretched him last time. The first-time headgear is an unknown on a horse who has been up and down this year.
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12Kind Touch36/100
Kind Touch is a fair 3 year old who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, landing second on two of his last three starts. He has already won here from two runs at Ripon and is well drawn in stall one, though the yard's record at the track is modest at 5% from 41 runs. The small sample on good ground leaves his exact going preference unconfirmed.
KTB verdict
Trefor is the KTB Selection. He brings strong course form having won on his only previous visit to Ripon, combines that with a good record on good ground and a useful strike-rate at the trip. His ability to settle in midfield should allow him to benefit if the strong pace does collapse late, as the shape suggests it might. The main dangers are Dark Thirty, who showed his liking for the track when second over course and distance, and Indian Run, who arrives in decent nick and could be ideally placed with a late run from stall 12 if the leaders go too hard. Dark Cloud Rising and Eye of Dubai, both with course victories to their name, complete the shortlist of those who can feature.
KTB Selection Trefor
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 26 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Trefor | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Dark Thirty | 5/1 | 7Bet |
| Indian Run | 15/2 | William Hill |
| Dark Cloud Rising | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Eye of Dubai | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| I'm Next | 8/1 | William Hill |
| Another Baar | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Yes I'm Mali | 17/2 | William Hill |
| Beaujolais Nouveau | 20/1 | William Hill |
| Schrodinger's Cat | 12/1 | William Hill |
| U Sure Do | 11/1 | William Hill |
| Kind Touch | 17/2 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 3:28 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 best suited by the expected strong pace?
Hold-up horses such as Indian Run, Eye of Dubai, Another Baar, Yes I'm Mali, Beaujolais Nouveau, Schrodinger's Cat, U Sure Do and Kind Touch are favoured if the strong pace collapses late.
How many previous wins at Ripon does Another Baar have?
Another Baar has won three times from 11 runs at Ripon.
What is the course record of the selection Trefor?
Trefor has won from one run at Ripon.
Which runners are stepping up in class?
Dark Cloud Rising, Yes I'm Mali, U Sure Do and Kind Touch are all stepping up in class.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Ripon among the principals?
Charles Hills has a 21% strike rate at Ripon from 67 runs with Trefor.
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