3:46 Bangor-on-Dee
This Class 5 handicap steeplechase at Bangor-on-Dee over 2m1f77y on good to soft ground brings together a compact field of nine where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched between 64 and 47. The principals are separated by only three points on the figures, underlining a race where course and trip specifics, as well as how the strong pace unfolds, could prove decisive. Riviera Walk heads the KTB Fit ratings and is the selection, while several runners enter with recent placed form or are dropping in class.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners and a strong pace confidently expected, the race is set to be run at a keen gallop that could cause the leaders to fold late. Falco des Pins and Masterfield are both front-runners, while Riviera Walk, Laristote, Inedit d'Amour and Ker d'Oudairies tend to race prominently; this shape should favour those who can be held up or race in mid-division, such as Grain Trade. The key question is whether the prominent and front-running contingent can withstand the pressure or if the race will collapse in the closing stages, allowing a hold-up performer to capitalise.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Riviera Walk KTB Selection64/100
Riviera Walk is a useful performer who has won once from three starts at today's trip and showed solid form on good to soft ground with one win and a place from two runs. The recent form of 4F1P-U includes both a win and some patchy efforts. The Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill yard posts a 14% strike rate at Bangor-on-Dee from 22 runs in line with their record elsewhere, while Jonjo O'Neill Jr. has a 20% strike rate at the track from 66 rides, also matching his record at other courses. Usually racing prominently and on or close to the lead, he should be involved in the early battle in a race where the pace is set to be strong. With an official rating of 103 and a KTB Fit score of 64 he is the selection.
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2Laristote63/100
Laristote is a useful performer who showed steady placed form last season, finishing third in both a handicap here and on his final start. He steps up in trip today having failed to win in two previous tries at this distance, while the going remains an unknown with only four career runs behind him. The Donald McCain yard has a 19% strike rate at Bangor from 1,361 runs, above their record elsewhere, and Theo Gillard operates at an 11% strike rate here from 166 rides, in line with his figure at other tracks. Usually racing prominently and handily, he should be well placed early in what is likely to be a strongly run contest. Rated 100 officially and carrying a KTB Fit score of 63 he is entitled to respect.
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3Falco des Pins62/100
Falco des Pins is a useful performer who arrives in solid form after two wins and two seconds from his last four starts. He showed little on his only previous run here and is now dropping back in trip to one he has never tried. The Venetia Williams yard and Charlie Deutsch both hold a 16% strike rate at Bangor that sits in line with their records elsewhere. A confirmed front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is sure to set a strong gallop in a race where the pace shape is expected to be testing. Rated 102 officially and with a KTB Fit score of 62 he remains a leading contender.
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4Masterfield61/100
Masterfield is a useful performer who has shown consistent form, finishing in the frame on three of his five starts including a third here at Bangor. He steps up in trip today having failed to win in two previous runs at this distance, though his half-brother Glajou landed three races and the family has produced winners. The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero yard posts a 15% strike rate at Bangor from 246 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while Toby Wynne has a 19% strike rate here from 113 rides, also in line with his figure at other tracks. A front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he will be right up there early in a strongly run race. Rated 100 officially and with a KTB Fit score of 61 he cannot be dismissed.
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5Grain Trade60/100
Grain Trade is a useful performer who arrives in solid nick after a recent third and has the official rating to be competitive in this grade. Dropping back in trip today having failed to win in two previous attempts at this distance, he is a hold-up performer whose style could be favoured if the strong pace collapses late. The trainer holds a 20% strike rate at Bangor while the jockey is 0-14 at the track.
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6Locquirec59/100
Locquirec is a useful performer on official ratings who has shown fair form in three of his five completed starts. Dropping back in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on his only attempt, first-time headgear is now fitted. The yard and jockey both record strike rates at Bangor that sit in line with their figures elsewhere, though the horse himself could only manage sixth on his sole previous run here.
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7Inedit d'Amour52/100
Inedit d'Amour is a smart performer who arrives in decent nick after a solid second last time out. He has already tried this trip three times without success and has failed to place in two runs on good to soft ground. The trainer records a 19% strike rate at Bangor from 1,361 runs, above his mark elsewhere, though the jockey has only three rides here which is too small a sample to judge.
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8Air Apparent51/100
Air Apparent is a useful performer who showed fair form when placed over 3m last season. Dropping back sharply in trip today which asks a fresh question while the dam's limited produce record offers no strong clues. The trainer has no recorded runners at Bangor while the jockey's 10 percent strike rate here from 31 rides sits in line with his overall record.
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9Ker d'Oudairies47/100
Ker d'Oudairies is a fair performer on official ratings who has shown little for the yard so far with a string of modest efforts. He makes his first appearance at Bangor-on-Dee and drops back in trip to a distance he has not tried, leaving both unknowns. The trainer and jockey both record 10-11% strike rates here that sit in line with their figures at other tracks.
KTB verdict
Riviera Walk is the KTB Selection. A useful performer with a win at the trip and proven on good to soft ground, his prominent style should keep him involved early while the yard and jockey both perform to their usual level at Bangor. The selection has the highest KTB Fit score in a race where the strong pace could cause problems for those up front. Laristote, Falco des Pins and Masterfield are the main dangers, all useful types who bring placed form or recent success and will be prominent or on the lead in a contest that looks set to test stamina late on.
KTB Selection Riviera Walk
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:02am, 27 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Riviera Walk | 9/1 | Bet365, 12:02am |
| Laristote | 9/1 | Bet365, 12:02am |
| Falco des Pins | 7/2 | William Hill, 12:02am |
| Masterfield | 12/1 | Bet365, 12:02am |
| Grain Trade | 9/2 | 7Bet, 12:02am |
| Locquirec | 12/1 | 7Bet, 12:02am |
| Inedit d'Amour | 11/4 | 7Bet, 12:02am |
| Air Apparent | 15/2 | BetTom, 12:02am |
| Ker d'Oudairies | 8/1 | Bet365, 12:02am |
This is the narrative read of the 3:46 Bangor-on-Dee. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Bangor-on-Dee racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Bangor-on-Dee results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Bangor-on-Dee racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is proven at the trip on good to soft ground?
Riviera Walk has won once from three starts at today's trip and showed solid form on good to soft ground with one win and a place from two runs.
How many front-runners are in the field?
Two front-runners are present: Falco des Pins and Masterfield.
Which runners are dropping in class?
Laristote, Falco des Pins, Masterfield and Locquirec are all dropping in class.
Who is the only horse wearing new headgear?
Locquirec is fitted with first-time headgear.
Which horse has course form at Bangor but is unproven on the going?
Laristote has a third on his only previous run here but has had no runs on good to soft.
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