1:55 Newbury
This Class 5 amateur jockeys' handicap division at Newbury over 1m4f on soft ground brings together a dozen modest performers, several of whom are unproven on the surface or at the trip. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Pride of Nepal heading the list on 59 despite a string of ordinary recent efforts. Several runners bring placed form or course knowledge, but the overall standard is modest and the race looks open on paper.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present and several other prominent racers likely to be involved early. Boy George, Rascallion and Artavian are all inclined to go forward, while Belle of Kt and Urban Warrior should race handily just in behind. This shape raises the possibility of the leaders coming back to the field late on, which would play into the hands of hold-up performers such as Pride of Nepal, Kurios Lady, Beaune and Expressionless.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Pride of Nepal KTB Selection59/100
Pride of Nepal is a modest performer who has produced a string of ordinary efforts of late. He steps up to 1m4f, a trip at which he has won twice from 12 starts, although he is unproven on soft ground. Archie Watson's 10% strike rate at Newbury from 116 runs is in line with his record elsewhere, while this will be the horse's first appearance at the track. Brodie Hampson takes the ride with a 16% strike rate at Newbury from 19 rides. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and should be suited if the strong pace collapses.
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2Belle of Kt56/100
Belle of Kt is a modest performer who has won three times at this trip from seven attempts and now drops back from 1m5f. She arrives with solid recent form figures but is unproven on soft ground and this will be her first run at Newbury. J. S. Moore's 2% strike rate at the track from 368 runs sits below his 7% elsewhere, though Scarlett Dorricott brings a 100% record from her one previous ride here. Usually prominent, she races handily on or close to the lead and could be vulnerable if the pace is as strong as expected.
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3Boy George55/100
Boy George is a modest performer who arrives in decent form after two placed efforts and has already won once from two starts at Newbury. He steps up to 1m4f for the first time in a while having won six times at the trip earlier in his career. He has been placed twice from four starts on soft ground without winning. Dominic Ffrench Davis records a 9% strike rate here which sits in line with his overall figure, while Lucas Murphy has no established record at the track. A front-runner, he tends to make the running or race on the pace and could set a strong gallop.
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4Alcaraz53/100
Alcaraz is a modest performer who has shown little spark in five starts this year and arrives with a recent form line of 8-5000. He has placed once in two runs at Newbury but is 0-3 on soft ground. George Baker's 5% strike rate here from 139 runs is below his overall mark. Stepping up to an untried 1m4f today asks a fresh question of a horse that has looked limited at shorter trips. Usually prominent, he races handily on or close to the lead and is dropping in class.
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5Edward Sexton52/100
Edward Sexton is a modest performer who has shown some spark on soft ground, finishing placed on his only start on it. He has been placed once at this trip from two attempts and now tries first-time headgear after a mixed recent record. The trainer has no recorded runners at Newbury while the jockey also has no recorded rides at the track. Typically settling in midfield, he is dropping in class and could be suited by the strong pace if it collapses late.
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6Gallant Lion51/100
Gallant Lion is a modest performer who has won once in five runs at Newbury and three times from 13 at this trip. Ian Williams has a 7% strike rate here from 379 runs, below his 12% at other tracks. He is 0 from 3 on soft ground and will typically settle in midfield.
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7Kurios Lady50/100
Kurios Lady is a modest performer who has been consistent enough in recent months without winning. She steps up in trip to 1m4f having shown no success at the distance in two previous tries and is unproven on soft ground. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Newbury is in line with their record elsewhere while this is her first run at the track. Usually held up, she produces her effort late and steps up in class.
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8Rascallion45/100
Rascallion is a modest performer who has shown very little in five starts since returning from a long break. He has no experience of soft ground and steps up in trip today for the first time, so this is very much an unknown. Henrietta C Knight has a 6% strike rate at Newbury from 297 runs, below her 14% elsewhere. A front-runner, he tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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9Urban Warrior45/100
Urban Warrior is a limited performer who has shown steady placed form on soft ground and at this trip. He drops back from a longer distance today having been out of the frame on his last two starts. The trainer's 4% strike rate at Newbury from 91 runs sits below his overall figure. Usually prominent, he races handily on or close to the lead and steps up in class.
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10Artavian42/100
Artavian is a limited performer who has been in and out this year with a recent win sandwiched between modest efforts. He has placed once from two runs on soft ground and has won at this trip though he steps back from 1m6f today. The yard records a 9% strike rate at Newbury from 130 runs in line with their overall figure while he was well held on his only previous start here. A front-runner, he tends to make the running or race on the pace and steps up in class.
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11Beaune40/100
Beaune is a limited performer who has been consistent enough to place on soft ground twice from two starts. Dropping back to 1m4f looks a positive as she has won three times from 11 starts at the trip, though her recent form has been ordinary. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Newbury from 57 runs is in line with their record elsewhere, while this is her first run at the track. Usually held up, she produces her effort late and steps up in class.
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12Expressionless38/100
Expressionless is a modest performer with a solid course record here, having been placed on two of his four starts at Newbury. He has won on soft ground and at today's trip, though he steps back up in distance having last run over 1m2f. Trainer Dylan Cunha is 0% from 11 runs at the track while this is the first-time headgear. Usually held up, he produces his effort late.
KTB verdict
Pride of Nepal is the KTB Selection. A modest performer with two previous wins at this trip, he is well suited by the strong pace likely to be set by several front-runners and prominent racers, which could collapse late and play to his hold-up style. His recent form is ordinary but the trip and race shape are in his favour, and the Watson/Hampson combination has its merits at this venue. The main dangers are Boy George, who brings course-winning form, recent placings and a front-running style, and Belle of Kt, who has a good record at the trip despite her largely unknown profile on soft ground and at Newbury. Edward Sexton and Alcaraz are others who could improve their positions in a race where the pace could be the deciding factor.
KTB Selection Pride of Nepal
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). 12 runners were not priced by any bookmaker before the off (a dash). Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
This is the narrative read of the 1:55 Newbury. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Newbury racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Newbury results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Newbury racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is unproven on soft ground but steps up to a trip where it has won twice before?
Pride of Nepal is unproven on soft ground but steps up to 1m4f where he has won twice from 12 starts.
How many front-runners are likely to contest the early pace?
Two or more habitual front-runners are present, suggesting a strong pace is likely.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear and has shown some spark on soft ground?
Edward Sexton is wearing first-time headgear and has shown some spark on soft ground, finishing placed on his only start on it.
Who has the best recent course record among the field?
Expressionless has a solid course record at Newbury, having been placed on two of his four starts here.
Which runner is dropping in class and stepping up to an untried 1m4f?
Alcaraz is dropping in class and stepping up to an untried 1m4f.
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