2:30 Plumpton
This Class 5 handicap hurdle over 2m4f116y at Plumpton for the Josh Gifford Memorial Trophy brings together a compact field of seven where the KTB Fit Scores point to a competitive but not overly deep contest. Market House heads the ratings on 66 with solid recent form and course experience, while A Tickatickatiming, Dotties Star and Eliza Dolittle follow closely in the 50-56 range, suggesting the principals hold the key. Most runners arrive with questions about the ground and several are stepping up or down in trip, making the ability to handle the prevailing conditions and the step in distance central to the outcome.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, pointing to Eliza Dolittle making the running with little to no pressure from the others. The remainder of the field, dominated by held-up types in Market House, A Tickatickatiming, Dotties Star, Gone Country and Bread And Butter, plus the midfield-running Tipu Sultan, are likely to settle well back early. This uncontested lead could prove difficult for the closers to bridge in the latter stages, so the key question is whether any of the held-up runners can produce a strong enough late effort to reel in the front-runner on this stiff track.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Market House KTB Selection66/100
Market House is a useful performer who arrives in good order after a solid second last time and has already shown he handles this track with a win from two runs here. The step up in trip looks a positive on paper given his placed effort at this distance, though he remains unproven on the prevailing ground. Trainer James Owen has a strong 30% strike rate at Plumpton while Sean Bowen posts a solid 18% from his rides at the track. Usually held up and producing its effort late, he is likely to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time of it. With an official rating of 98 and recent form figures of 7P21-2, he holds a clear edge on KTB ratings at 66. The combination of course success and the trip being in his favour makes him the one to beat.
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2A Tickatickatiming56/100
A Tickatickatiming is a fair performer who has won twice here from 11 runs and looks to have the right connections with a solid trainer and jockey record at Plumpton. Recent form has been patchy with a pulled-up effort and an unseated, though he has shown some placed form at today's longer trip. He is completely unproven on this ground which adds a question mark. Usually held up and producing its effort late, he will be aiming to come from off the pace against what is likely to be an uncontested leader. The yard's 12% strike rate at Plumpton and the jockey's 11% record from large samples offer some encouragement, as does his official rating of 88. At 56 on the KTB Fit scale he is the second highest rated but needs to bounce back from those recent setbacks.
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3Dotties Star52/100
Dotties Star is a fair performer who has won once from three starts at Plumpton and arrives off the back of a solid second last time out. The yard and jockey both hold an 8% strike rate here from decent-sized samples. Stepping up markedly in trip is an unknown and the horse remains unproven on this ground. Usually held up and producing its effort late, he will need to generate plenty of momentum from the rear in a race with a clear leader up front. His official rating of 88 matches that of the second principal and recent form of /8P42- suggests he retains ability. At a KTB Fit of 52 he is capable of a bold show if the trip proves within range.
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4Eliza Dolittle50/100
Eliza Dolittle is a fair performer who has won three times here from 15 runs and also has a solid three-from-seven record at today's trip. Drops back from 2m7f having shown a bit of spark when third on her return last time. Trainer has a 12% strike-rate at Plumpton from a big sample while the jockey is operating at 6% here. Tends to make the running or race on the pace, she is set to enjoy the lone leader role in a race where the front-runner is expected to get an easy time. Her official rating of 84 and recent form of 2166-3 underline her course-and-distance claims. Rated 50 on the KTB Fit scale, she could prove hard to peg back if allowed to dictate.
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5Tipu Sultan50/100
Tipu Sultan is a fair performer on the balance of his form and remains lightly raced after just three starts in the last year. He has shown some ability on his last two starts but now steps up markedly in trip as a fresh question. The trainer has no previous runners at Plumpton while the jockey operates at a 7% strike rate from 55 rides here.
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6Gone Country49/100
Gone Country is a fair performer who showed more when winning a weak maiden at Fontwell last time. Drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question. Trainer and jockey both have solid records at Plumpton but the horse was only fourth when he ran here earlier in his career.
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7Bread And Butter36/100
Bread And Butter is a fair 11-year-old who has shown consistent modest form this year without threatening to win. He has run twice at Plumpton without placing and his trainer has a poor 0% strike rate from 53 runs at the track. He has won twice at today's trip from seven attempts yet remains unproven on this ground.
KTB verdict
Market House stands out as the KTB Selection. He is a useful performer in good order, has already won at this track, and the step up in trip is viewed as a plus given his placed effort at the distance. Usually held up, he should be well placed to launch a challenge once the leader comes back to the field. His main dangers are likely to be Eliza Dolittle, who is expected to make the running and has a strong course record, and A Tickatickatiming, who boasts two wins here and the right connections at Plumpton.
KTB Selection Market House
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Market House | 2/1 | Bet365 |
| A Tickatickatiming | 7/2 | William Hill |
| Dotties Star | 8/1 | Bet365 |
| Eliza Dolittle | 12/1 | BoyleSports |
| Tipu Sultan | 30/1 | 7Bet |
| Gone Country | 9/4 | Bet365 |
| Bread And Butter | 25/1 | BoyleSports |
This is the narrative read of the 2:30 Plumpton. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Plumpton racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Plumpton results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Plumpton 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 take the uncontested lead?
Eliza Dolittle tends to make the running or race on the pace and the pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence.
How many wins has Market House recorded at Plumpton?
One win from two runs.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Plumpton for the yard of the selection?
30% strike rate at Plumpton with an A/E of 1.35 from 47 runs.
Which runners are stepping up markedly in trip?
Dotties Star and Tipu Sultan are both stepping up markedly in trip.
How many course wins does Eliza Dolittle have from her starts at Plumpton?
Three wins from 15 runs.
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