4:50 Fontwell
This Class 5 novices' limited handicap hurdle at Fontwell over 2m5f164y on good ground brings together a field of seven where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top. County Champs and Ritaan both sit on 56, just ahead of Sailing By on 55, while the remainder tail off noticeably. The KTB numbers point to a competitive heat among the principals, with the selection shouldering an OR of 92 and the race posing questions around trip suitability and unproven stamina for several runners.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner the pace shape is described as muddling and tactical, which should play to those who can settle close to the pace rather than those forced to come from the rear. Prominent racers such as Sailing By and Ghost Jury are likely to see plenty of the action early, while the selection County Champs and I Love You Sivola are expected to track in mid-division. The key question is whether the muddling tempo will allow the held-up types like Ritaan, Lakeview Lass and Anothermanicmonday enough time to deliver their efforts without being outpaced in the sprint to the line.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1County Champs KTB Selection56/100
County Champs arrives with strong placed form at Fontwell, having finished second on both previous visits, and has shown consistent efforts this season including two seconds and a close second last time out. Rated 92 he is the highest in the weights among the principals yet possesses useful ability for a race of this nature. Chris Gordon holds a 14% strike rate at the track from 891 runs while Fern O'Brien takes off a handy 5 lb, though the jockey is 0-10 at Fontwell. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and the step up in trip today, having previously failed to get competitive over this distance, introduces a fresh question. Typically settling in mid-division, he should be well positioned in a tactical affair that lacks an obvious leader.
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2Ritaan56/100
Ritaan is rated a fair performer on the balance of her nine runs and official mark of 78. She steps up in trip for the first time having shown placed form on good ground, though she is yet to register a win on that surface. Georgina Nicholls maintains a solid 14% strike rate at Fontwell with an A/E of 1.49 from 22 runs, while Lorcan Murtagh is 15% from 34 rides here with an A/E of 1.37. This will be her first run at the track. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she should be suited by the muddling, tactical pace that allows those ridden with restraint to close home.
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3Sailing By55/100
Sailing By is another fair performer on his ratings and limited race history, carrying an OR of 89 as a lightly-raced 5-year-old with just six career starts. The Joe Tizzard yard posts an 18% strike rate at Fontwell from 104 runs, though Dylan Johnston is operating at 17% from 23 rides with an A/E of 0.77. He steps up in trip today, an unknown given he has no previous experience at this distance. Racing prominently and usually on or close to the lead with high confidence in that assessment, he is well placed to take advantage of the muddling tactical pace that should suit those handy early.
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4Lakeview Lass49/100
Lakeview Lass has shown little in five starts to date and was well held when finishing seventh on her course debut here last time. Dropping in class now from an OR of 78, she steps up markedly in trip which poses a fresh question, while first-time headgear is also applied. Jeremy Scott has a 16% strike rate at Fontwell from 147 runs and Lorcan Williams is 24% from 41 rides here with an A/E of 1.14. She has two runs on good ground without placing and was unplaced on her sole previous visit to the track. Usually held up and producing her effort late with high confidence, she will be hoping the tactical nature of the race gives her time to close.
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5Ghost Jury37/100
Ghost Jury is a modest performer who has been consistent without winning, placing in four of his last six starts including two seconds. He steps up in trip having already placed at this distance without winning, and his record on good ground shows he remains competitive though winless. The yard's modest 5% strike rate at Fontwell from 19 runs is a concern and he was only fourth on his previous run here.
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6I Love You Sivola34/100
I Love You Sivola is a modest performer who showed a bit when winning a weak handicap at Ffos Las last time but has generally struggled to build on such efforts. He has six runs at Fontwell without a win or place and the trainer is 0-6 at the track. Dropping back in trip from a recent 3m1f run, he has failed to place in three previous attempts at this distance and holds an OR of 72.
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7Anothermanicmonday34/100
Anothermanicmonday is a modest performer who has shown little spark in two runs at this track, finishing fifth on both occasions. He steps up markedly in trip today having been well held over shorter on his last two starts, which asks a fresh question from an OR of 70. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate at Fontwell from 128 runs adds little confidence.
KTB verdict
County Champs stands out as the KTB Selection. He has placed on both visits to Fontwell and produced consistent form this season, including a close second last time, with the yard holding a solid record at the venue. The step up in trip does ask a question having failed to get competitive when tried at the distance before, yet his ability and positioning in mid-division look ideally suited to the muddling tactical pace. Main dangers are Ritaan, who is fairly rated and steps up in trip with the yard and jockey both in form at the track, and Sailing By, whose prominent style should be effective while the longer distance remains an unknown for the lightly-raced 5-year-old. Lakeview Lass cannot be entirely dismissed dropping in class with headgear applied.
KTB Selection County Champs
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 21 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| County Champs | 11/4 | Midnite |
| Ritaan | 28/1 | Bet365 |
| Sailing By | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Lakeview Lass | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Ghost Jury | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| I Love You Sivola | 6/4 | William Hill |
| Anothermanicmonday | 10/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 4:50 Fontwell. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Fontwell racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Fontwell results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Fontwell racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest official rating in the race?
County Champs on 92.
How many times has County Champs run at Fontwell and what is his record?
Ran 2 times here: 2nd, F — placed, no win.
Which runners are stepping up in trip for the first time today?
Ritaan and Sailing By are stepping up in trip for the first time; Lakeview Lass and Anothermanicmonday are stepping up markedly in trip.
Who is the only horse in the field wearing headgear?
Lakeview Lass in first-time headgear.
Which horse has the best trainer strike rate at Fontwell among the principals?
Sailing By, with the yard on 18% from 104 runs.
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