5:19 Leicester
A modest Class 6 handicap over 1m2f at Leicester on good to firm ground brings together six runners in a race that lacks any obvious pace influence. The KTB Fit scores highlight a clear top four, headed by Pisanello on 63, with Clipsham Noble, Ricardo Phillips and Hachiman all rated in the mid-40s to upper-50s while the remaining pair sit in the mid-30s. Recent form is mixed, though several hold course form at Leicester and the steadily-run nature of the contest is expected to place an emphasis on tactical positioning.
How the race shapes up
With no recognised front-runner in the field the pace shape points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy will pay. Every horse is rated as a held-up type who produces its effort late, so the key question is which of these closers can best negotiate the steady gallop and deliver at the right moment in the straight. Early positioning from the low draws may prove advantageous given the lack of obvious speed on paper.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Pisanello KTB Selection63/100Modest performer who has been in decent form of late with three wins in his last six starts.
- 2Clipsham Noble57/100Clipsham Noble is a limited horse who has been busy and shown enough to win four times, including twice at this track and once at today's trip.
- 3Ricardo Phillips46/100Ricardo Phillips is a limited performer who has shown consistency of late with placed efforts on his last two starts.
- 4Hachiman45/100Limited performer who has shown just enough to be competitive at this level without winning.
- 5Kameel37/100Limited performer who has been a model of consistency without winning, finishing fourth in three runs at this track and placing twice at today's trip.
- 6Read All About It36/100Limited performer who has shown only modest form this year and looks vulnerable in most races.
The contenders
Pisanello KTB Fit 63/100
Pisanello arrives in decent form, recording three wins in his last six starts to underline his ability at this modest level despite being a 9-year-old. He steps up in trip having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at 1m2f, while his only previous run at Leicester resulted in a modest sixth. First-time headgear is now fitted as another unknown factor. The David O'Meara yard posts a 15% strike rate at the track from 192 runs, and the 7/36 trainer-jockey combination with Conor Whiteley carries an A/E of 1.33. Usually held up, he will be looking to produce his effort late in what is likely to be a tactical race.
Clipsham Noble KTB Fit 57/100
Clipsham Noble is a limited performer who has nevertheless been busy, winning four times including two victories at Leicester and one at today's trip. He handles good to firm ground well enough, with three wins and four places from 11 starts on it, and the yard's 33% strike rate at the track from just six runs adds encouragement. First-time headgear is now applied on the back of 31 runs in the last year. The Charlie Clover and Liam Wright combination shows a strong 6/18 record with an A/E of 1.82. A held-up performer who usually produces his effort late, he is proven at the course and distance and should be suited by the steadily-run nature of the race.
Ricardo Phillips KTB Fit 46/100
Ricardo Phillips is a limited performer who has shown consistency of late, finishing placed on his last two starts. He has won once from four runs at Leicester and is proven at this trip without having scored over it, while he has also placed twice from five runs on good to firm. The Henry Candy yard has a 10% strike rate at the track from 212 runs. Usually held up, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where being handy is expected to pay. The trainer-jockey record stands at 7/114 with an A/E of 0.64.
Hachiman KTB Fit 45/100
Hachiman is a limited performer who has shown just enough to remain competitive at this level without winning. He has placed on both starts at Leicester and on two of three runs on good to firm, so both track and ground look suitable. The Ruth Carr yard's modest 8% strike rate at Leicester from 80 runs adds a note of caution. Usually held up with high confidence in that assessment, he will be aiming to produce his effort late in a steadily-run affair. The trainer-jockey combination shows 340 wins from 3903 rides with an A/E of 0.86.
The rest of the field
KameelKTB Fit 37/100
Kameel is a limited performer who has been a model of consistency without winning, finishing fourth in three runs at Leicester and placing twice at today's trip. First-time headgear is now tried after a string of ordinary efforts and the yard's modest record at the track adds little encouragement. Usually held up, he has placed once from four starts on good to firm.
Read All About ItKTB Fit 36/100
Read All About It is a limited performer who has shown only modest form this year and looks vulnerable. He has placed once at this trip and on good to firm but is yet to win in nine starts, with no course form on record. The yard has a 10% strike rate at Leicester from 41 runs.
KTB verdict
Pisanello is the KTB Selection. He has been in decent form of late with three wins in his last six starts and the yard's solid 15% strike rate at Leicester offers encouragement despite the step up in trip, his modest course effort and the first-time headgear. The steadily-run race should suit his held-up style if he can time his effort right. Main dangers are Clipsham Noble, who is proven at the track and trip with a strong trainer record here, the consistent Ricardo Phillips, and Hachiman who has placed on both previous visits to Leicester.
KTB Selection Pisanello
This is the narrative read of the 5:19 Leicester. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Leicester racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won the most times at Leicester?
Clipsham Noble has won twice at the track.
How many of the field are wearing headgear for the first time?
Three horses are wearing first-time headgear: Pisanello, Clipsham Noble and Kameel.
Which horse steps up in trip having previously failed to trouble the judge over the distance?
Pisanello steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous tries at this distance.
How many runners have course form at Leicester?
Five of the six runners have course form at Leicester.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Leicester among those represented?
Charlie Clover has a 33% strike rate at Leicester from six runs.
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