3:53 Yarmouth
This Class 6 handicap over 6f at Yarmouth on soft ground brings together nine modest performers, several of whom arrive in inconsistent form. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Walking On Clouds, Court Of Session, Coolagh Magic and Prefer The Sister all rated in the low-to-mid 50s, underlining the competitive but limited nature of the contest. Recent winners are present, yet questions over the surface, lack of course form and overall reliability mean the race is far from straightforward.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner the pace shape is expected to be muddling and tactical, favouring those who can race close to the speed. Walking On Clouds and Top Star are the two most likely to take up handy positions from their prominent styles, while the majority of the field – Court Of Session, Coolagh Magic, Prefer The Sister, Chasing Gold and Mr Phillips – tend to be held up. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate enough of the race on soft ground or whether the closers will be able to pick their way through in the latter stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Walking On Clouds KTB Selection55/100Modest performer with an RPR of 67 who has been in and out this year and showed his best when winning a similar race over this trip at Leicester last time.
- 2Court Of Session54/100Modest performer who has been in and out this year and ran to form when winning a similar race last time out.
- 3Coolagh Magic53/100Modest performer who has been placed twice from four runs at Yarmouth without winning.
- 4Prefer The Sister52/100Modest performer who has shown little spark in three runs this year and arrives with a career record of 0-24.
- 5Chasing Gold49/100Modest performer who has shown bits of ability on the all-weather but arrives here on the back of an unseating last time and with no runs on soft ground.
- 6Mr Phillips43/100Modest performer who showed his best effort when third of 16 over this C&D on good to soft ground at 125-1 last October.
- 7Mighty Ruler41/100Mighty Ruler is a modest performer who has been consistent enough to finish in the frame on three of his last four completed starts but lacks a win in 20 runs.
- 8Top Star38/100Modest performer who has shown bits of ability at this trip without winning.
- 9Tilsworth Turf33/100Modest performer who has dropped to a workable mark but has shown very little spark this year with three poor efforts from his last three starts.
The contenders
Walking On Clouds KTB Fit 55/100
Walking On Clouds is a modest performer with an RPR of 67 who has been in and out this year. He showed his best when winning a similar race over this trip at Leicester last time and has won eight times from 32 starts at this distance. The 7-year-old is 0-1 on soft ground and makes his first start at Yarmouth today. Trainer Chelsea Banham has a 7% strike rate at the track from 61 runs while Joey Haynes is aboard; the pair combine with a 9% strike rate overall. Usually races handily, on or close to the lead, he looks set to play a prominent role in a race lacking an obvious front-runner.
Court Of Session KTB Fit 54/100
Court Of Session is another modest performer who has been in and out this year. He ran to form when winning a similar race last time out and has placed twice from five runs at Yarmouth. The 7-year-old is 0-2 on soft ground and that remains a question mark. Trainer Phil McEntee has a solid 9% strike rate here from a big sample of 453 runs, while 3lb claimer Jack Callan boasts a 20% strike rate at the track from 25 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be hoping the muddling pace allows him to come through late.
Coolagh Magic KTB Fit 53/100
Coolagh Magic is a modest performer who has been placed twice from four runs at Yarmouth without winning. The 10-year-old steps up to 6f today having won at the trip in the past though his most recent efforts have come over shorter. Only one run on soft ground so far and that produced no joy. Trainer Anthony Carson has a 12% strike rate at Yarmouth from 135 runs and is joined by William Carson, the pair combining at a 9% strike rate overall. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the race to fall right in a tactical affair.
Prefer The Sister KTB Fit 52/100
Prefer The Sister is a modest performer who has shown little spark in three runs this year and arrives with a career record of 0-24. He has been placed over this trip in the past but drops back from a mile on ground he has never tried, leaving him with plenty to prove. Trainer James Owen has a solid 20% strike-rate at the track from 60 runs although the jockey-trainer combination reads 0-15. Usually held up and producing his effort late, the 6-year-old will need to find improvement on soft ground to figure.
The rest of the field
Chasing GoldKTB Fit 49/100
Chasing Gold is a modest performer who has shown bits of ability on the all-weather but arrives here on the back of an unseating last time and with no runs on soft ground. He steps up from 5f to 6f having been placed once at today's trip from four attempts, while first-time headgear is now tried. Trainer has a 0% strike rate from 18 runs at Yarmouth.
Mr PhillipsKTB Fit 43/100
Mr Phillips is a modest performer who showed his best effort when third of 16 over this C&D on good to soft ground at 125-1 last October. He has a placed effort from two runs at Yarmouth and is also placed at today's trip from two attempts. Trainer J R Jenkins has a 5% strike rate from 656 runs at the track while Marco Ghiani takes the ride.
Mighty RulerKTB Fit 41/100
Mighty Ruler is a modest performer who has been consistent enough to finish in the frame on three of his last four completed starts but lacks a win in 20 runs. He drops back to 6f today having been placed at the trip earlier in his career though he is unproven on soft ground and makes his first visit to Yarmouth. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate from 62 runs at the track adds little confidence.
Top StarKTB Fit 38/100
Top Star is a modest performer who has shown bits of ability at this trip without winning. First time headgear is tried after a string of ordinary efforts and he is unproven on soft ground having never raced on it. Trainer has a 9% strike rate from 196 runs at Yarmouth.
Tilsworth TurfKTB Fit 33/100
Tilsworth Turf is a modest performer who has dropped to a workable mark but has shown very little spark this year with three poor efforts from his last three starts. He has run twice at Yarmouth without placing and the trainer’s 5% strike rate from 656 runs here offers no encouragement. Two wins from six on soft ground and a previous success at this trip are the main positives on his record.
KTB verdict
Walking On Clouds is named the KTB Selection. A modest performer with an RPR of 67, he showed his best when winning a similar race over this trip at Leicester last time and boasts eight wins from 32 starts at the distance. His prominent style should suit the muddling, tactical pace shape while the remainder of the field carry plenty of question marks, particularly on soft ground. Court Of Session, Coolagh Magic and Prefer The Sister are the main dangers, each with placed course form or recent winning form yet all with ground or consistency issues to overcome.
KTB Selection Walking On Clouds
This is the narrative read of the 3:53 Yarmouth. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Yarmouth racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the most wins at today's trip?
Walking On Clouds has won eight times from 32 starts at this distance.
How many placed efforts has Court Of Session recorded at Yarmouth?
Court Of Session has placed twice from five runs at Yarmouth.
What is the best recent effort shown by Mr Phillips at this course and distance?
Mr Phillips showed his best effort when third of 16 over this C&D on good to soft ground at 125-1 last October.
Which runners are unproven on soft ground?
Prefer The Sister, Chasing Gold, Mighty Ruler and Top Star are unproven on soft ground.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Yarmouth among the principals?
James Owen has a 20% strike rate at Yarmouth from 60 runs for Prefer The Sister.
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