4:25 Pontefract
This Class 4 handicap over 1m2f5y at Pontefract on good to soft ground features a field of ten with the KTB numbers highlighting a tight contest at the top. The top five principals are rated within four Fit points of each other, underlining how competitive the race looks on paper. Obito emerges as the KTB Selection with a Fit score of 59, sharing that exact rating with Bnaider while carrying an official rating of 86.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, pointing to one clear front-runner enjoying an uncontested lead that is often difficult for closers to overcome. Green Area is the only front-runner in the field and is likely to be allowed an easy time up front. The remainder of the runners, including the selection Obito, are predominantly held-up types who will be looking to produce their effort from off the pace, raising the key question of whether any of them can bridge the gap to the uncontested leader in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Obito KTB Selection59/100
Obito arrives with a KTB Fit score of 59 and is the clear selection. Rated 86 on official figures, the four-year-old has shown a solid level of ability with recent form figures of 255134. David O'Meara trains the horse and sends it out with a 13% strike rate at Pontefract from 461 runs while Rossa Ryan takes the ride boasting a 25% strike rate at the track. The going looks to suit as he has one win from one start on good to soft, though he has no course form on record. Usually held up and producing his effort late, Obito will need the race to fall right given the uncontested lead up front.
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2Bnaider59/100
Bnaider matches Obito on the KTB Fit score of 59 and is a leading contender from a mark of 82. The three-year-old has form figures of 43-415 and has already shown he handles good to soft ground with one win from one start. Harry Charlton has a strong 25% strike rate at Pontefract while Cieren Fallon is an able deputy with a 29% record at the venue. Like the selection he is usually held up and produces his effort late, meaning he will also have to overcome the projected lone leader. No course form on record but the overall profile suggests he is capable of playing a major role.
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3BillyB58/100
BillyB is next best on a KTB Fit score of 58 and carries an official rating of 82 as a seven-year-old. Recent form of 707420 shows flashes of ability though he has failed to win on good to soft in four attempts. Craig Lidster has a healthy 16% strike rate at Pontefract and teams up with Tom Eaves who has an 8% record at the track from 581 rides. The trainer and jockey combination shows an A/E of 1.12 with positive LSP. Usually held up, BillyB has course experience with four runs here including a second, though he has yet to win at the venue. He will need to come from off the pace against the likely uncontested leader.
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4Walsingham58/100
Walsingham also scores 58 on the KTB Fit scale and is rated 87. The six-year-old has recent form of 057831 and has won three times from five starts at Pontefract. David O'Meara again trains with a 13% strike rate at the track while Kevin Stott takes over in the saddle with a 15% record here. He has shown he handles good to soft with one win from three starts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, Walsingham has the best course record in the field and looks sure to be competitive if he can get to the leader in time.
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5Ohara55/100
Ohara completes the principals with a KTB Fit score of 55 from an official rating of 75. The three-year-old has form figures of 820744 yet has won here from one run at the track. Eve Johnson Houghton trains with a 14% strike rate at Pontefract while Oliver Carmichael claims 7lb and boasts a remarkable 50% strike rate at the venue from just two rides. He is usually held up and has limited experience on good to soft with one run yielding no win or place. The course win is a positive but he will face a stiffer task coming from off the pace against the projected leader.
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6Impartiality51/100
Impartiality has a KTB Fit score of 51 and is dropping in class from an OR of 86. Recent form of 222237 shows consistency though the trainer has a 0% strike rate at Pontefract from 21 runs. Usually held up, he has placed once from one start on good to soft but has no course form.
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7Sailthisshipalone50/100
Sailthisshipalone is rated 50 on KTB Fit with an OR of 77 and recent form of 393315. The five-year-old has won once from six starts at Pontefract and has a 1-6 record on good to soft. Usually prominent, he represents a trainer with a 14% strike rate at the track.
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8Per Contra49/100
Per Contra has a KTB Fit of 49 and an OR of 82 with form of 483138. The five-year-old is usually held up and has placed once from one run at Pontefract. He holds a 1-7 record on good to soft.
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9Green Area45/100
Green Area is the lone leader in the pace shape and has a KTB Fit of 45 from an OR of 79. The three-year-old has form of 3313 and is 1-1 on good to soft. No course form on record but he is likely to be given an easy lead.
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10Night Patrol44/100
Night Patrol has the lowest KTB Fit at 44 with an OR of 77 and form of 13-803. The three-year-old is usually held up, has a 1-2 record on good to soft and represents a trainer with a 13% strike rate at Pontefract, though the jockey is 6% here.
KTB verdict
Obito is the KTB Selection and looks to have the best blend of ability, trainer and jockey form at the track plus a liking for the going. His held-up style will be tested by the uncontested lead but the selection has the class to overcome that. Main dangers are headed by Bnaider who matches him on the Fit score and has similar late-run traits, while Walsingham's strong course record at Pontefract cannot be ignored. BillyB and Ohara add further depth to what looks a genuinely competitive renewal.
KTB Selection Obito
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 19 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Obito | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Bnaider | 2/1 | Bet365 |
| BillyB | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| Walsingham | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Ohara | 18/1 | BetTom |
| Impartiality | 9/1 | William Hill |
| Sailthisshipalone | 12/1 | BetTom |
| Per Contra | 5/1 | William Hill |
| Green Area | 11/2 | Bet Victor |
| Night Patrol | 14/1 | BetTom |
This is the narrative read of the 4:25 Pontefract. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Pontefract racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Pontefract results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Pontefract racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is likely to get the uncontested lead?
Green Area is the only front-runner and the pace shape indicates a lone leader with high confidence, suggesting an uncontested lead.
How many of the principals are usually held up?
All five principals – Obito, Bnaider, BillyB, Walsingham and Ohara – are described as usually held up and producing their effort late.
Which horse has the strongest course record at Pontefract?
Walsingham has won three from five starts at the track.
Which jockey has the highest strike rate at Pontefract among those riding in this race?
Oliver Carmichael has a 50% strike rate at Pontefract from two rides.
Which horse is dropping in class?
Impartiality is dropping in class.
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