1:38 Thirsk
This Class 4 EBF novice over the minimum 5f at Thirsk features a field of eight two-year-olds with relatively limited racecourse experience between them. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, headed by the unbeaten Palm Reader on 58, with Battle Fever, Red Blue Point and Bacha all within ten points and each carrying their own question marks. Conditions are good ground and the pace shape is unclear with insufficient run-style data to form a confident view of how the race will unfold.
How the race shapes up
With the pace shape rated unclear and low confidence across the field, it is difficult to predict how the early fractions will be set. Several runners have shown a tendency to be held up, including Battle Fever and Unbeatable Fame, which could result in a race that develops late. The key question is whether any horse can seize an uncontested lead or whether the race will turn into a sprint for the line from off the pace, with the draw and any early dash likely to prove influential given the short distance.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Palm Reader KTB Selection58/100Palm Reader won on debut over this trip and looks to have been well placed to do so.
- 2Battle Fever50/100Battle Fever has shown fair form in two runs so far, finishing second and third, and he drops back to 5f today having already placed once at the trip.
- 3Red Blue Point49/100Red Blue Point is a newcomer from a yard that operates at a solid 15% strike rate at Thirsk.
- 4Bacha48/100Bacha showed some promise when fifth on debut over this trip.
- 5Unbeatable Fame47/100Unbeatable Fame showed little on debut when finishing seventh.
- 6Suenicora Star46/100Suenicora Star has only one run to her name so the form picture is very thin.
- 7Articulate43/100Articulate has shown only modest form in two runs at this trip so far and remains lightly raced with plenty of unknowns.
- 8River Jordan41/100River Jordan has shown only modest form in two starts over this trip and looks to have limited ability on the evidence so far.
The contenders
Palm Reader KTB Fit 58/100
Palm Reader arrives unbeaten after winning on debut over this trip and has been found what looks an suitable opportunity to build on that. Declan Carroll's yard posts a 9% strike rate at Thirsk from a large sample of 452 runs while Zak Wheatley is operating above expectations with a 12% record from 67 rides here. First-time headgear is now applied, which may sharpen him further, although with only one run on the board the overall picture remains tentative. He is unproven on good ground and has no previous course form, yet the KTB Fit rating of 58 marks him out as the one to beat.
Battle Fever KTB Fit 50/100
Battle Fever has shown fair form across two starts, finishing second and third, and now drops back to 5f where he has already placed once. Kevin Ryan's operation holds a 12% strike rate at Thirsk from 808 runs and Kevin Stott posts a solid 14% from 242 rides at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he remains lightly raced and not fully exposed with the KTB Fit of 50. He is unproven on good ground and has no course form to date, but his placed efforts give him a solid platform.
Red Blue Point KTB Fit 49/100
Red Blue Point is a newcomer whose assessment rests entirely on sales pedigree and background rather than any racecourse evidence. James Tate's yard operates at a solid 15% strike rate at Thirsk from 84 runs while Silvestre de Sousa is an experienced Thirsk rider boasting a 16% record from 249 rides. By Blue Point, who himself has a 13% overall win rate from 3209 runners, the colt is bred to have speed. With no course win on record and the KTB Fit of 49 he is entitled to plenty of respect on debut.
Bacha KTB Fit 48/100
Bacha showed some promise when finishing fifth on debut over this trip and now drops in class. Richard and Peter Fahey's yard has a solid 10% strike rate at Thirsk from 21 runs although Cam Hardie is operating at a modest 3% strike rate from a large sample of 304 rides here. With only one run on the board the form remains very thin and he will need to improve to figure prominently. Unproven on good ground and with no course form, the KTB Fit of 48 reflects a modest profile at this stage.
The rest of the field
Unbeatable FameKTB Fit 47/100
Unbeatable Fame showed little when finishing seventh on debut. The Richard and Peter Fahey yard has a 10% strike rate at Thirsk from 21 runs while Oisin McSweeney is 9% from 56 rides here; with only one run on the clock and stepping up in class the form is hard to weigh up.
Suenicora StarKTB Fit 46/100
Suenicora Star has only one run to her name so the form picture is very thin and she drops back from 6f to 5f which asks a fresh question. Brian Ellison holds a solid 10% strike rate at Thirsk but Ben Robinson is operating at a modest 5% here.
ArticulateKTB Fit 43/100
Articulate has shown only modest form in two runs at this trip so far and remains lightly raced with plenty of unknowns. The Kevin and Lauren Frost yard has a 0% strike rate at Thirsk from a small sample of two runs while William Pyle has a 10% record from 58 rides here; stepping up in class he has to be treated with caution.
River JordanKTB Fit 41/100
River Jordan has shown only modest form in two starts over this trip and looks to have limited ability on the evidence so far. Phillip Makin's record at Thirsk is poor at 5% from 99 runs while Connor Beasley has a 10% strike rate here from a big sample; with low data confidence he is best treated with caution.
KTB verdict
Palm Reader is the KTB Selection. He won on debut over the trip and the yard and jockey both have respectable records at Thirsk, while the addition of first-time headgear may bring further improvement. The picture remains tentative given his lack of experience, yet the KTB Fit score of 58 gives him the edge. The main dangers are Battle Fever, who brings placed form and is not fully exposed, and the newcomer Red Blue Point, whose pedigree and trainer-jockey combination command respect.
KTB Selection Palm Reader
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:02 UTC, 1 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Reader | 2/1 | Bet365 |
| Battle Fever | 9/4 | Bet365 |
| Red Blue Point | 7/4 | William Hill |
| Bacha | 10/1 | Bet Victor |
| Unbeatable Fame | 50/1 | Bet Victor |
| Suenicora Star | 80/1 | Bet365 |
| Articulate | 150/1 | 7Bet |
| River Jordan | 22/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 1:38 Thirsk. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Thirsk racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is having its first run in headgear?
Palm Reader is wearing first-time headgear.
Which runners are dropping back in trip to 5f?
Battle Fever and Suenicora Star are dropping back to 5f.
Which horse is by Blue Point?
Red Blue Point is by Blue Point.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Thirsk among the principals?
James Tate has a 15% strike rate at Thirsk.
Which two runners are held up in their run style?
Battle Fever and Unbeatable Fame are usually held up.
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