5:15 Ripon
This Class 3 novice stakes over 1m4f10y at Ripon on good ground brings together a field of ten, the majority of them lightly-raced three-year-olds with scope to progress. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Walking On Stars on 55, with four others between 51 and 46, underlining that this is an open-looking heat where improvement and trip suitability will be key. Sir Mark Prescott’s charge arrives in good heart having shown steady progress over the distance, while several others step up markedly in trip or class with limited prior evidence.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy on the turn could prove advantageous. Most of the principals are held-up types who will be looking to produce their effort from off the pace, so the race is likely to develop into a test of timing in the straight. The key question is whether those racing prominently or those coming from further back can best capitalise on the even gallop that is anticipated.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Walking On Stars KTB Selection55/100
Walking On Stars is a fair performer who has shown steady improvement, finishing second in both starts since switching to this trip. Drawn in stall one at a track where the yard has a solid 27% strike rate from 86 runs, the three-year-old is lightly raced with only four career outings. The trip question has been answered positively but going suitability remains unknown on good ground. Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris team up with a trainer-jockey record of 482 wins from 2609 rides at 18% and an A/E of 0.89. The colt is usually held up and produces its effort late, which should suit the anticipated tactical nature of the race.
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2Who's The Goat51/100
Who's The Goat has shown only modest form in two starts this year and now steps up markedly in trip. The yard's record at Ripon is modest with a 5% strike rate from 377 runs. Data confidence is low given the small sample and the fresh distance question facing this six-year-old. Micky Hammond and Aiden Brookes combine with a trainer-jockey record of 29 wins from 511 rides at 6% and an A/E of 0.82. Usually held up, the horse will need to find plenty of progress to figure in a race of this nature.
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3Koala Rose50/100
Koala Rose is a fair performer who has been consistent in defeat, finishing in the first three on all five starts including two placed efforts over this trip. Dropping back from 2m should suit and the yard's solid 23% strike rate at Ripon adds some confidence. Ralph Beckett and Jason Hart team up with a trainer-jockey record of 3 wins from 10 rides at 30% and an A/E of 1.35. The filly is usually held up with medium confidence in that assessment and has placed once from two runs on good ground. With no course form on record she remains an each-way player in an open event.
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4Wadacre Icon46/100
Wadacre Icon showed promise when second on debut over 1m3f. He now steps up in trip to a distance he has not tried, which poses a fresh question. The yard has an 11% strike rate at Ripon from 104 runs while Connor Beasley is 10% from 263 rides here, though with low data confidence overall this one needs to be treated cautiously. Charlie Johnston and Beasley have a trainer-jockey record of 26 wins from 142 rides at 18% and an A/E of 1.14. The colt has placed once from one run on good ground and could improve further with experience.
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5Going To Graceland46/100
Going To Graceland is lightly raced with just two runs this year, the most recent a fair fourth after an initial eighth. Steps up in trip today to 1m4f which is an unknown. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Ripon, with Charlie Johnston on 11% from 104 runs and Rowan Scott on 7% from 165 rides. The pair combine with a trainer-jockey record of 12 wins from 49 rides at 24% and an A/E of 1.94. Usually held up with low data confidence, the three-year-old is stepping up in class and will need to show more to get involved.
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6Brittunculi44/100
Brittunculi showed fair form when fourth on debut over 1m2f. The step up to 1m4f today asks a fresh question of this lightly-raced 3-year-old. Trainer Waggott has an 8% strike rate from 116 runs at Ripon while jockey Pyle's record at the track is unknown.
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7Chico Dorado43/100
Chico Dorado showed fair initial promise when fifth on debut over 1m3f. He now steps up in trip for a yard with no recorded runners at Ripon while Oisin Orr brings a solid 16% strike rate from 95 rides here. With only one run on the board and limited data overall this remains very much an unknown quantity.
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8Emtinan41/100
Emtinan has only two runs on the board and showed little encouragement when fifth on debut before pulling up last time. The yard has a modest 2% strike rate at Ripon from 58 runs while Tom Eaves sits on a 5% record from 517 rides here. Stepping up markedly in trip for the first time today adds another unknown to a horse that must be treated with real caution given the low data confidence.
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9Medran40/100
Medran is a newcomer whose form cannot be judged on the track. The yard has a solid 12% strike-rate at Ripon from a decent sample, but the jockey is operating at just 2% here from 46 rides. With data confidence low everything else rests on the undisclosed pedigree and sales background.
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10Neswick39/100
Neswick is a modest performer who has shown consistent placed form in three starts this year, finishing no worse than third. He is trying this trip again after one unsuccessful attempt and remains lightly raced overall with scope to improve. Trainer Marcus Tregoning has a solid 22% strike rate at Ripon from 32 runs while jockey Dougie Costello is unproven at the track.
KTB verdict
Walking On Stars is the KTB Selection. A fair performer who has shown steady improvement and finished second on both starts over this trip, the three-year-old is drawn in stall one at a track where Sir Mark Prescott has a 27% strike rate from 86 runs. Lightly raced and with the trip question already answered positively, he looks well placed to capitalise on the steadily-run affair that is likely to unfold. The main dangers are Koala Rose, whose consistency and yard record at Ripon command respect, and the promising but trip-untested Wadacre Icon.
KTB Selection Walking On Stars
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 26 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Walking On Stars | 3/1 | William Hill |
| Who's The Goat | 17/2 | Midnite |
| Koala Rose | 5/2 | Bet365 |
| Wadacre Icon | 11/4 | Bet365 |
| Going To Graceland | 30/1 | 7Bet |
| Brittunculi | 200/1 | 7Bet |
| Chico Dorado | 18/1 | 7Bet |
| Emtinan | 16/1 | William Hill |
| Medran | 40/1 | 7Bet |
| Neswick | 8/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 5:15 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 has the highest KTB Fit Score and why does it stand out?
Walking On Stars has the highest KTB Fit Score on 55/100. It stands out through steady improvement, two seconds since switching to this trip, and the yard's 27% strike rate at Ripon from 86 runs.
How does the lack of an obvious leader affect the race shape?
The pace shape lacks a leader with medium confidence, suggesting a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays. Most principals are held-up types, so timing from off the pace will be crucial.
Which runners are stepping up markedly in trip?
Who's The Goat, Wadacre Icon, Going To Graceland, Brittunculi, Chico Dorado and Emtinan are all stepping up markedly in trip with the distance an unknown for each.
What are the best trainer records at Ripon among the principals?
Sir Mark Prescott has a 27% strike rate at Ripon from 86 runs, Ralph Beckett has 23% from 73 runs, and Marcus Tregoning has 22% from 32 runs.
Which horses have placed form over the race distance?
Koala Rose has two placed efforts over this trip and has finished in the first three on all five starts.
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