5:03 Worcester
This Class 5 Kevin 'nasty' Turner Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase at Worcester serves as an ARC Summer Chase Series qualifier over 2m0f110y on good ground. The small field of six features several useful performers on their day, though recent form is mixed and the KTB Fit Scores sit in a relatively narrow band from 61 down to 44. Overall the numbers suggest a competitive but unconvincing handicap where course knowledge, trip suitability and yard form at Worcester will carry significant weight.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay dividends. With the majority of the field, including all four principals, tending to be held up and produce their effort late, the race is likely to develop into a test of timing from off the pace. The key question will be whether any horse can quicken effectively off a steady gallop or if the race will instead fall to something that can creep closer throughout from a midfield position.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Four Decades KTB Selection61/100
Four Decades arrives as the KTB Selection with a Fit Score of 61. A useful performer, he has not really kicked on since joining the T Ellis yard and comes into this on the back of two modest efforts. He has tried this trip five times without success and now drops back from 2m2½f, while he has shown little on good ground in four starts. The yard posts a solid 13% strike-rate at Worcester from 24 runs with an A/E of 0.94, and Jack Andrews brings a 21% strike-rate at the track from 28 rides with an A/E of 1.58. Held up with high confidence in his run-style, he usually produces his effort late, though his own record here reads just a sixth on his sole visit.
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2Holy Legend56/100
Holy Legend is rated a Fit Score of 56 and is a useful performer who has already won over this course. He handles good ground, with two wins from nine attempts and four places. Dropping back in trip today having last run over two and a half miles, he is only placed without winning at the shorter distance. Alexandra Dunn’s modest 6% strike-rate at Worcester from 106 runs carries an A/E of 0.62, while James Best is 4% from 290 rides here with an A/E of 0.7. Usually held up with high confidence, he produces his effort late and his course record reads one win from two starts.
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3Culligran53/100
Culligran carries a Fit Score of 53 and is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form here, finishing second and third across three runs at Worcester. He steps up in trip today having already won at this distance in the past, though his record on good ground is only modest with one win from ten starts and six places. D J Jeffreys has an 8% strike-rate at the track from 71 runs with an A/E of 0.72, while Kielan Woods brings a 17% strike-rate from 225 rides here and an A/E of 1.09. His run-style is held up with medium confidence, usually producing his effort late.
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4Belle Le Grand53/100
Belle Le Grand is another on a Fit Score of 53 and is a useful mare who has won four times at this trip. She handles good ground well with four wins from ten starts and five places. She ran respectably when fifth over course and distance on her only previous visit here. Dan Skelton’s 17% strike-rate at Worcester from 397 runs comes with an A/E of 0.79, though Harry Atkins is 0% from six rides at the track. Dropping in class is a positive, yet she has been below her best on her last two starts. Held up with high confidence, she usually produces her effort late.
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5Boom Boom50/100
Boom Boom is a fair performer with a Fit Score of 50 who has shown little spark of late with three pulled-ups from his last four starts. He has two wins on good ground from 13 attempts and has won over today’s trip in the past, though he is dropping back in distance from his most recent run. The yard has no previous runners at Worcester while the horse himself is 0-2 at the track.
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6Ballinoulart44/100
Ballinoulart is a modest performer with a Fit Score of 44 who has been placed five times from 14 starts on good ground and looks competitive at this level on his best days. He drops back in trip today having last run over 2m5f and that distance change is an unknown. The trainer has a 7% strike-rate from 181 runs at Worcester while the horse himself could only manage fourth on his one previous visit here.
KTB verdict
Four Decades is the KTB Selection. Though he has not really kicked on for the yard and arrives on the back of modest efforts, the trainer’s solid record at Worcester and the jockey’s positive course figures provide hope in a race where the pace is likely to be tactical. His ability to produce a late effort from a held-up position could be well suited to the shape. The main dangers are Holy Legend, who has already won over the course and handles the ground, and the consistent Culligran, whose placed form at Worcester makes him a regular threat. Belle Le Grand cannot be dismissed either given her record at the trip and the drop in class.
KTB Selection Four Decades
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 4 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Four Decades | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Holy Legend | 11/10 | Bet365 |
| Culligran | 3/1 | 7Bet |
| Belle Le Grand | 7/2 | 7Bet |
| Boom Boom | 12/1 | 7Bet |
| Ballinoulart | 35/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 5:03 Worcester. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Worcester racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Worcester results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has previously won over the Worcester course?
Holy Legend has won here from two starts.
How many wins has Belle Le Grand recorded at today's trip?
Belle Le Grand has won four times at this trip.
What is the trainer's strike-rate at Worcester for the yard of Four Decades?
T Ellis has a 13% strike-rate at Worcester with an A/E of 0.94 from 24 runs.
Which runners are noted for a held-up run-style with high confidence?
Four Decades, Holy Legend and Belle Le Grand are held up with high confidence.
How many times has Culligran been placed at Worcester?
Culligran has shown consistent placed form here, finishing second and third in three runs at Worcester.
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