2:40 Thirsk
This Class 2 British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes over 6f at Thirsk on good to soft ground brings together a field of 13 two-year-olds, the majority of whom are lightly raced or making their debut. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with no standout standout on the numbers, underlining the open nature of the contest and the reliance on pedigree and limited racecourse evidence for several runners. Overall the KTB assessments point to a race where yard form at the track, jockey effectiveness and the ability to cope with a steadily-run affair will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical race in which being handy should pay. Several runners are noted as usually held up and producing their effort late, which could leave them with plenty to do if the tempo remains modest. The key question is which horse can overcome a wide draw or a lack of early pace to land a telling blow in the final furlong.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Pippy Boy KTB Selection58/100
Pippy Boy is a newcomer with no racecourse experience. The yard has a modest 9% strike-rate at Thirsk from 33 runs while Darragh Keenan has an above-average 13% strike-rate from his 15 rides here. By Ghaiyyath, who has a 15% overall win rate, the colt will need pedigree and sales background to carry him on debut in this Class 2. Drawn in stall 7, he has a workable post in a race where being handy is likely to pay. The KTB Fit rating of 58 is the highest in the field and he is the selection.
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2Voyager One53/100
Voyager One showed some promise when fifth on debut over a mile but now drops back to 6f for the first time which asks a fresh question. The yard has a modest 11% strike rate at Thirsk from a decent sample while jockey Pierre-Louis Jamin is operating at a strong 34% strike rate here. With only one run on the clock and limited data overall this remains a cautious read. Usually held up, he may need the race to fall right in a steadily-run affair. His KTB Fit of 53 places him second in the ratings.
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3Rum Point51/100
Rum Point is a debutant with very little known about his ability on the track. The yard has a modest 9% strike-rate at Thirsk from a big sample while Zak Wheatley has shown a solid 12% strike-rate here from 69 rides. By Lucky Vega, who has a 16% overall win rate, pedigree and sales background will have to carry the assessment given the low data confidence. Drawn in stall 2 he has a good early position to work with in a tactical race. The KTB Fit rating is 51.
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4Scottys Rocket49/100
Scottys Rocket has shown little in two starts to date, finishing ninth then third in modest company. He now steps up to 6f for the first time which asks a fresh question of him. The yard has a solid 10% strike-rate at Thirsk while the jockey is operating at 8%. Usually held up, he will need to find plenty more on this step up in class. His KTB Fit rating is 49.
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5Lord Bishop49/100
Lord Bishop is a newcomer from a yard that operates at a steady 10% strike rate at Thirsk. The Brian Ellison stable knows the track well enough and Billy Garritty has a solid 11% record here, though both figures come from large samples that include plenty of ordinary runners. With no racecourse form to go on the colt's chance rests entirely on his pedigree and sales background. By Lope Y Fernandez, who has an 11% overall win rate, he is drawn in stall 6. The KTB Fit rating is 49.
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6Dontlookanyfurther48/100
Dontlookanyfurther is a fair performer who showed more when winning a 6f maiden last time having looked limited on debut here. The yard's modest record at Thirsk offers little encouragement and the jockey is operating below his usual level at the track. Trip looks fine but this is a big step up in class from a wide draw.
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7Malulee47/100
Malulee has only one run to go on so any assessment has to be tentative. The yard operates at a modest 10% strike rate here over a huge sample of runners while the jockey is 6% from 16 rides at the track. Stepping up from 5f to 6f asks a fresh question of a horse whose going preference also remains unknown.
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8Hair Raising45/100
Hair Raising has shown mixed form in two starts, finishing third then sixth. The drop back to 6f from 7½f asks a fresh question while the yard's modest 8% strike rate at Thirsk from a huge sample offers little encouragement. Jockey James Sullivan is operating at a similar modest level here with a 6% strike rate from 609 rides.
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9Uncle Zello42/100
Uncle Zello has shown some ability with a placed effort at today's trip on his debut before failing to build on it last time. He now drops back from 6½f which looks a sensible move on pedigree and early signs. The yard has a modest 0% strike rate from 11 runs at Thirsk while the jockey operates at an 11% strike rate from 27 rides here.
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10Texting40/100
Texting has shown modest form in two starts so far, finishing sixth on both occasions. The drop back to 6f is an unknown at this stage while the wide draw in stall 10 adds another negative. Trainer Ivan Furtado has a 4% strike rate from 69 runs at Thirsk and the jockey has too few rides here to judge.
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11Ma Blushin Rosie39/100
Ma Blushin Rosie showed fair placed form on debut over this trip and should improve from the experience. The yard has a modest 6% strike rate at Thirsk from 51 runs while the jockey is 0-5 at the track. With only one run on the clock and limited data overall this remains a cautious read.
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12Reddy38/100
Reddy showed some promise when finishing third on debut over this trip. The yard has a modest 0% strike rate from five runs at Thirsk while the jockey has too small a sample to judge. With only one run on the clock and limited data overall this is very much a watching brief.
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13Callisterra37/100
Callisterra is a modest performer who has shown some consistency, finishing in the first three in two of three starts and placing twice at this trip. Has already run once at Thirsk, finishing fifth without threatening, and remains lightly raced with scope to improve. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 10% strike rate here from large samples.
KTB verdict
Pippy Boy is the KTB Selection. A newcomer by Ghaiyyath, he tops the KTB Fit ratings at 58 and benefits from a yard and jockey combination that have above-average records at Thirsk. In a race short of obvious pace he can take a handy position from stall 7 and make his pedigree count. The main dangers are Voyager One, who showed promise on debut and now drops to 6f, and Rum Point, another debutant with a good draw and a solid jockey booking. Scottys Rocket and Lord Bishop add further depth in what remains a tricky novice.
KTB Selection Pippy Boy
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 5 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Pippy Boy | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Voyager One | 22/1 | Bet365 |
| Rum Point | 22/1 | Midnite |
| Scottys Rocket | 20/1 | 7Bet |
| Lord Bishop | 40/1 | Bet Victor |
| Dontlookanyfurther | 11/4 | Bet365 |
| Malulee | 70/1 | 7Bet |
| Hair Raising | 50/1 | Bet Victor |
| Uncle Zello | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Texting | 25/1 | Bet Victor |
| Ma Blushin Rosie | 9/4 | 7Bet |
| Reddy | 5/1 | 7Bet |
| Callisterra | 13/2 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 2:40 Thirsk. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Thirsk racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Thirsk results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why is Pippy Boy rated the selection despite being a debutant in a Class 2?
Pippy Boy tops the KTB Fit ratings at 58, the yard has a 9% strike-rate at Thirsk with an A/E of 1.03 and Darragh Keenan has a 13% strike-rate here with an A/E of 1.89.
How does the lack of an obvious leader affect the race shape?
The pace shape lacks a leader with medium confidence, making it likely a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
Which horses are stepping up in class?
Voyager One, Scottys Rocket, Dontlookanyfurther, Malulee, Hair Raising, Uncle Zello, Texting, Ma Blushin Rosie, Reddy and Callisterra are all stepping up in class.
Who has the strongest jockey record at Thirsk in the field?
Pierre-Louis Jamin has a 34% strike rate at Thirsk with an A/E of 1.73 from 29 rides.
Which runners are unproven on good to soft ground?
Voyager One, Scottys Rocket, Dontlookanyfurther, Malulee, Hair Raising, Uncle Zello, Texting, Reddy and Callisterra have no runs on good to soft.
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