4:40 Ripon
This Class 6 handicap division at Ripon over 6f on good ground brings together a field of ten modest performers, several of whom have shown ability at this track and trip. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Solar Cooper heading the list on 58 followed closely by Liverpool Star on 56, indicating a competitive but low-grade contest where course form and the drop in class could prove decisive. Overall the numbers suggest a race that will be decided by which of these familiar faces can rediscover their best on a track that often favours those with previous experience here.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a lone leader with high confidence, and that role looks set to fall to Uncertainty from stall 1, who tends to make the running. With so many of the field, including the top five principals, being held-up types who produce their effort late, the leader is likely to enjoy an uncontested advantage that could prove difficult for closers to overcome in the straight. The key question is whether any of the patient runners can bridge the gap on an uncontested leader or whether the front-runner will get away with it on this occasion.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Solar Cooper KTB Selection58/100
Solar Cooper is a modest performer who has already won over this trip and at this track from just three runs here. He drops back from 7½f with first-time headgear applied and is drawn low in stall 2, which could be advantageous given the expected pace shape. The trainer has a solid 15% strike rate at Ripon from a big sample of 105 runs, while the jockey shows a 16% strike rate at the track from 95 rides. He has one win from six starts on good ground with another placed effort, and his recent form figures of 801696 include that course success. As the KTB Selection he merits close attention in a race where course-and-distance know-how carries plenty of weight.
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2Liverpool Star56/100
Liverpool Star is another modest performer who won on his only previous visit to Ripon and has also scored at this trip. He has posted two poor efforts since a respectable fourth at Thirsk in June and now looks vulnerable from a wide draw in stall 4. The trainer Michael & David Easterby have a 10% strike rate at Ripon from 105 runs, while Paul Mulrennan shows a solid 12% strike rate at the track from a large sample. He holds one win from five starts on good ground with two placed efforts, and his recent form reads 145490. Dropping in class may help, yet the balance of his form and the draw suggest he will need to improve on recent showings.
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3Hurstwood50/100
Hurstwood is a limited class performer who has been in and out this year yet showed his best when winning two of his last three starts. He has a solid record here at Ripon with two wins from 14 runs and has also won at this trip on six occasions from 48 attempts. The yard holds a 9% strike rate at the track from 64 runs, while he has two wins and five places from 18 starts on good ground. His recent form figures of 604711 underline the upturn in form, and with his held-up run style he will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get first run. At the age of nine he remains capable on his day at this level.
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4Dream Deal47/100
Dream Deal is a modest performer who has run creditably at this track on both starts, finishing second on his most recent visit. He has three wins from 15 runs on good ground and has scored at this trip, though his recent form has been patchy with figures of 274077. Trainer Tim Easterby has a 10% strike rate from a huge sample of 2427 runs here, while Duran Fentiman has a solid record at Ripon. Usually held up, he will be among those trying to close late on the expected lone leader. His placed efforts at the course give him each-way claims if he can return to his best form at this venue.
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5Valentine Catcher47/100
Valentine Catcher is a modest performer who has been consistent enough of late with three placed efforts in his last six starts. He has won over today's trip but has never scored on good ground and was well beaten on his only previous run here from one visit. The yard's record at Ripon is modest, and he steps down in class from a wide draw in stall 9. Usually held up with medium confidence in that assessment, his recent form of 397233 shows plenty of minor honours but a lack of wins. Conditions are not ideal given his record on good ground, yet his consistency at this level means he cannot be entirely ruled out.
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6Kings Merchant47/100
Kings Merchant is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with recent efforts including a win and a fourth. He has placed once from two runs at Ripon and holds a solid record at this trip with four wins from 21 starts. Trainer Philip Kirby has a modest 6% strike rate here from 115 runs while jockey Conor Whiteley is unproven at the track.
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7Taygar46/100
Taygar is a limited performer who has been running consistently in this grade without winning lately. He has a win and four places from 18 starts on good ground plus two wins from 23 at today's trip so the conditions look suitable enough. The yard has a 9% strike rate from 392 runs at Ripon and this will be his first visit.
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8Uncertainty46/100
Uncertainty is a limited performer who has shown little spark in 14 runs this year and was well beaten when seventh on his only previous visit to Ripon. He has placed twice at this trip but remains winless and has failed to place in five runs on good ground. The yard's modest 8% strike rate at the track adds no encouragement.
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9Angel Summer44/100
Angel Summer is a limited performer who has shown just enough at this trip to place twice in six attempts without winning. She arrives in reasonable form after a string of consistent efforts but is unproven on good ground and makes her first visit to Ripon. The yard has no recorded runners at the track either.
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10Cheerleader39/100
Cheerleader is a limited performer who has been placed on both runs at Ripon and has shown competitive form on good ground. She has been consistent at a low level this year but steps up to 6f for the first time today after a string of 5f runs. The trainer's modest record at the track adds a note of caution.
KTB verdict
Solar Cooper looks to hold the strongest hand in a race where course form is at a premium. He has already won over this trip and at Ripon, drops in class with the first-time headgear, and is drawn low in stall 2 in a contest where the pace shape may favour those closer to the rail. The selection has the right profile to capitalise on an uncontested lead up front and come from off the pace late. His main dangers are likely to be Hurstwood, who boasts two wins at the track and has been in better form of late, and Dream Deal, who has run well on both previous visits to Ripon. Liverpool Star and Valentine Catcher add further depth to what remains a tricky Class 6 heat.
KTB Selection Solar Cooper
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 26 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Cooper | 18/1 | Bet365 |
| Liverpool Star | 15/2 | Bet365 |
| Hurstwood | 9/2 | 7Bet |
| Dream Deal | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Valentine Catcher | 7/2 | Bet365 |
| Kings Merchant | 3/1 | 7Bet |
| Taygar | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Uncertainty | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Angel Summer | 7/1 | 7Bet |
| Cheerleader | 14/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 4:40 Ripon. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ripon racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Ripon results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is expected to take the uncontested lead?
Uncertainty tends to make the running or race on the pace and is drawn in stall 1, fitting the lone-leader pace shape.
How many of the principals are typically held-up runners?
All five principals are described as held up, with four having high confidence in that run style and Valentine Catcher having medium confidence.
Which horse is having its first run in first-time headgear?
Solar Cooper is equipped with first-time headgear.
Which runner has scored twice at this track?
Hurstwood has two wins from 14 runs at Ripon.
Which horse is stepping up from 5f to 6f for the first time?
Cheerleader steps up to 6f for the first time today after a string of 5f runs.
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