3:24 Ripon
A small but competitive Class 5 fillies’ handicap over the minimum trip at Ripon on good ground brings together five three- and four-year-olds, most of whom are modest performers with mixed form this season. The KTB Fit ratings suggest a tight contest at the top of the market, headed by Angel Numbers on 59, with Creative Queen and Zoustar Dreams not far behind on 55 and 48 respectively. Course form is thin across the field, first-time headgear appears on two runners, and the pace shape points to an uncontested lead that could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as a lone leader with medium confidence, indicating one clear front-runner with little to pressure it early. Zoustar Dreams is the only confirmed front-runner in the field and should be allowed an easy lead from draw 2. The other four runners are all held-up types who will be produced late, raising the key question of whether any of them can close the gap on an uncontested leader over this stiff five furlongs on good ground.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Angel Numbers KTB Selection59/100Modest performer who has shown mixed form this year but did win over this trip on good ground last time out.
- 2Creative Queen55/100Modest performer who has shown mixed results, winning once but finishing down the field on her last two starts.
- 3Zoustar Dreams48/100Modest performer who has been in and out this year but showed his better side when winning twice over this trip in the last two months.
- 4North West Gal47/100Modest performer who has shown some ability, winning once over today's 5f trip from three attempts.
- 5Marajito41/100Modest performer who has won over this trip and at this track.
The contenders
Angel Numbers KTB Fit 59/100
Angel Numbers is a modest performer who has shown mixed form this year but did win over this trip on good ground last time out. First run at Ripon today removes any course bias from the equation while the yard's 12 percent strike rate here from a big sample is respectable. Trip and ground look fine on the balance of what he has done. Usually held up and produces its effort late, the three-year-old will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time of it. Ruth Carr and James Sullivan team up with a trainer-jockey record of 339/3898 (9 percent) and an A/E of 0.86. Recent form figures read 527741.
Creative Queen KTB Fit 55/100
Creative Queen is a modest performer who has shown mixed results, winning once but finishing down the field on her last two starts. She drops back to an untried 5f for the first time today which asks a fresh question, while first-time headgear is now applied. William Haggas has a strong 33 percent strike rate at Ripon from 200 runs and teams up with Cieren Fallon, whose combined record reads 208/905 (23 percent) with an A/E of 0.97. Usually held up and produces its effort late from draw 5, she has been placed once from one run on good ground. Recent form figures read -62177.
Zoustar Dreams KTB Fit 48/100
Zoustar Dreams is a modest performer who has been in and out this year but showed his better side when winning twice over this trip in the last two months. First run at Ripon and only two runs on good ground so far bring unknowns while the first-time headgear is another new factor. Ed Dunlop has a solid 16 percent strike rate here from 105 runs and the trainer-jockey combination with Jack Callan (3) reads 3/14 (21 percent) with an A/E of 2.11. Tends to make the running or race on the pace, the three-year-old looks set to enjoy the lone lead in a race with no obvious early challengers. Recent form figures read 471141.
The rest of the field
North West GalKTB Fit 47/100
North West Gal is a modest performer who has shown some ability, winning once over today's 5f trip from three attempts. Dropping back from 6f should suit but she was well held on her only run here at Ripon. The Quinn yard has a solid 14 percent strike rate at the track from 36 runs and teams up with Jason Hart; usually held up, recent form reads 231-59.
MarajitoKTB Fit 41/100
Marajito is a modest performer who has won over this trip and at this track. Recent form is mixed with a win sandwiched between several lesser efforts and he is drawn in stall 1 which may not be ideal. Trainer has a 10 percent strike rate from a huge sample at Ripon while the jockey has limited experience here; usually held up, recent form reads -51654.
KTB verdict
Angel Numbers is the KTB Selection. A modest performer who has shown mixed form this year, the three-year-old did win over this trip on good ground last time out and the yard’s respectable record at Ripon adds to the appeal. Usually held up, he will need the race to fall right given the uncontested lead that looks likely. His main dangers are Creative Queen, who brings the strong Haggas/Fallon combination and first-time headgear, and Zoustar Dreams, who is the one to make the running and has won twice over the trip recently.
KTB Selection Angel Numbers
This is the narrative read of the 3:24 Ripon. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ripon racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is likely to get the uncontested lead?
Zoustar Dreams is the only front-runner in the field and should be allowed an easy lead according to the lone-leader pace shape.
What is the KTB Fit rating for the selection Angel Numbers?
59/100
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Creative Queen and Zoustar Dreams
How many wins has Zoustar Dreams recorded over this 5f trip in the last two months?
Two
What is William Haggas's strike rate at Ripon?
33 percent from 200 runs
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