3:52 Pontefract
This Class 3 handicap over 1m2f5y at Pontefract on good ground features a field of ten where the KTB Fit scores point to a competitive but not especially deep contest. Noble Horizon tops the KTB rankings on 69 with several others clustered in the mid-60s to mid-50s, underlining that while there is solid ability on show, recent consistency varies markedly. The race is run on a tight track where an uncontested lead could prove influential.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, suggesting Dain Ma Nut In can bowl along in front with little pressure from the others. Most of the field, including the top three in the KTB Fit order, are held-up types who will be looking to come from off the pace. The key question is whether the clear leader can dictate and prove hard to reel in on this sharp track, or whether the closers will be able to muster sufficient momentum late on.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Noble Horizon KTB Selection69/100
Noble Horizon is a useful performer who has won twice at this trip from eight attempts and showed he handles good ground with a win and five places from seven starts. Dropping back from 1m4f should suit but he has been a bit in and out lately with recent form of 3-7126. The yard has no recorded runs at Pontefract while jockey Daniel Tudhope also has no recorded rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the race to fall right given the uncontested lead up front. Dropping in class is a positive and he remains the KTB selection.
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2Circus of Rome65/100
Circus of Rome is a useful performer who has struggled in recent starts, finishing out of the frame in all five outings this year. He drops back from 1m6f to a trip he has tried three times without success, though he did win on good ground from five attempts. Richard Hughes has a solid 24% strike-rate at Pontefract from 17 runs and the booking of Finley Marsh, who himself has a 25% strike rate here from eight rides, adds to the positives. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he will be hoping the leader comes back to him. Dropping in class may help him return to form.
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3Dain Ma Nut In63/100
Dain Ma Nut In is a useful performer who has won three times at this trip from eight attempts and boasts a solid record on good ground with four wins and six places from nine starts. Recent form of 170209 shows clear ability mixed with inconsistency. The trainer has no Pontefract record from 116 runs overall while this is the horse's first run here. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is perfectly placed to take advantage of the lone-leader pace shape and could prove hard to peg back. Jack Nicholls claims 3lb and has a 29% strike rate at the track from 14 rides.
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4Auld Toon Loon54/100
Auld Toon Loon is a useful performer who has run creditably without winning on his last three starts. He has form on good ground and has won at this trip, though his record here reads only a modest fourth from one visit. The yard's 11% strike rate at Pontefract from 132 runs is nothing to shout about. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he will need the pace to collapse in front if he is to figure. Jason Hart has a 13% strike rate at the track from 400 rides.
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5Be Patient54/100
Be Patient is a fair 3-year-old with solid recent form including a win and two places from his last three starts. He drops back in trip to 1m2f today having won at the distance earlier in his career, though the last run over 1m4f raises a question about whether this shorter distance will suit him as well. The yard has a 20% strike rate at Pontefract from 70 runs. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he remains unproven on good ground having had only five career starts. Oisin Orr takes the ride for a yard that has shown a 23% strike rate when teaming up.
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6Hollywell Stream51/100
Hollywell Stream is a fair performer who has won at this trip and arrives in decent form after a win and a second on her last two starts. Drawn wide in stall 10 which is a negative on this tight track, the trainer records a 6% strike rate from 17 runs at Pontefract and she remains unproven on good ground.
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7Jez Bomb50/100
Jez Bomb is a fair performer who has won twice at Pontefract from four starts and also has two wins at this trip. Recent form of 912175 shows mixed results but includes a C&D success earlier this season. The trainer records a 12% strike rate here from 43 runs while the jockey has limited course experience. Usually held up and producing his effort late.
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8Keep An Eye On It49/100
Keep An Eye On It is a fair performer who has shown consistent form this year with two wins and two placed efforts from his last five starts. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a solid 11% strike rate at Pontefract from nine runs while the jockey and yard combination has so far failed to strike from 17 attempts.
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9Per Contra48/100
Per Contra is a fair performer who has won twice this year and arrives in decent form after a clear-cut success at Redcar last time. He stays this trip well with two wins from 14 starts and has shown he handles good ground. First time at Pontefract for both horse and yard, though the trainer has a solid 10% strike-rate here from a huge sample of runners. Stepping up in class.
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10Wahdan47/100
Wahdan is a fair performer on his best days but has been largely out of form this season with a string of mid-pack finishes. He has never won or placed on good ground from nine attempts and remains winless in nine starts at this trip. The yard has a 10% strike-rate here from a large sample while this is the horse's first visit to Pontefract. Usually held up.
KTB verdict
Noble Horizon is the KTB selection. He is a useful performer with two wins at this trip and a good record on good ground, and the drop back from 1m4f looks ideal given his held-up style in a race with an uncontested leader. Recent form has been mixed but dropping in class can help him bounce back. The main dangers are Dain Ma Nut In, who can take the uncontested lead and is very well suited by the ground, and Circus of Rome, who has the trainer and jockey stats in his favour despite a recent lull in form.
KTB Selection Noble Horizon
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 24 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Noble Horizon | 7/2 | 7Bet |
| Circus of Rome | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Dain Ma Nut In | 16/1 | Bet Victor |
| Auld Toon Loon | 11/1 | William Hill |
| Be Patient | 5/1 | Bet Victor |
| Hollywell Stream | 4/1 | Bet365 |
| Jez Bomb | 16/1 | Bet Victor |
| Keep An Eye On It | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Per Contra | 5/1 | Bet365 |
| Wahdan | 16/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 3:52 Pontefract. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Pontefract racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Pontefract results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Who is likely to take the uncontested lead?
Dain Ma Nut In, who tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Which horse has course wins at Pontefract?
Jez Bomb, who has won twice at the track from four starts.
Which runners are dropping in class?
Noble Horizon, Circus of Rome and Dain Ma Nut In.
Who is unproven on good ground?
Be Patient and Hollywell Stream.
Which horse has the best recent form at the trip?
Noble Horizon has won twice at this trip from eight attempts.
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