5:45 Chepstow
A modest Class 6 handicap over 1m2f at Chepstow on good to soft ground brings together a field of six where the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top. Liberate tops the numbers on 56 with Meet Me In Meraki close behind on 53, while Ghost Story and Stipulation both sit on 49. The KTB assessments point to a race featuring several modest performers with recent consistency from some but question marks over course, ground and overall ability for others.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and confidence is medium that it will be a steadily-run, tactical affair. With every runner in the field having a held-up run-style that usually sees them produce their effort late, the race is likely to develop into a test of timing from the rear. Being handy could pay in such a setup, and the key question is which of these late closers can best judge the pace and deliver at the right moment in what looks a bunched field.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Liberate KTB Selection56/100
Liberate is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year but showed his best side when winning over this trip on his penultimate start. He has never run at Chepstow and has no experience of good to soft ground, so both are unknowns today. The trainer has a 0% strike rate at Chepstow from two runs with an A/E of 0 while the 3 lb claimer Ashley Lewis brings a solid 19% strike rate at the track from 31 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, Liberate will be looking to come from off the pace in what is set to be a steadily-run affair. His recent form figures read 055921.
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2Meet Me In Meraki53/100
Meet Me In Meraki is a modest performer who has been running consistently enough this year without winning. He has won over this trip in the past and drops back from 1m4f, while his record here reads one win from two starts on good to soft ground where he has been placed on both attempts. The trainer has a 12% strike rate at Chepstow from 961 runs with an A/E of 1 while jockey Pat Dobbs has a 14% strike rate from 285 rides here with an A/E of 0.86. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the tactical nature of the race. His recent form figures read 787325.
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3Ghost Story49/100
Ghost Story is a modest performer who has been consistent of late with three placed efforts from his last five starts. He drops back to a trip he has won at twice from six attempts and has shown he handles good to soft ground with one win from two starts and one placed effort. The trainer is 0% from 13 at the track with an A/E of 0 while the jockey manages only an 8% strike rate from 38 rides here with an A/E of 0.39. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to make his mark from off the pace in a steadily-run race. Dropping in class, his recent form figures read 3-3343.
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4Stipulation49/100
Stipulation is a modest performer who has been placed on his only previous visit to Chepstow and has won twice at this trip. Recent form has been ordinary and he showed little on his sole run on good to soft ground. The trainer has an 8% strike rate from 121 runs at Chepstow with an A/E of 0.84 while jockey Callum Hutchinson posts a stronger 16% strike rate from 102 rides at the track with an A/E of 1.2. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the steadily-run affair to unfold in his favour from the rear. Dropping in class, his recent form figures read 386762.
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5Zambezi Magic44/100
Zambezi Magic is a limited performer who has been running to a similar level this year without threatening to win. He has shown some ability at this track and has won at today's trip though his record on good to soft is modest with just one success from 13 starts. Dropping in class, his recent form figures read 5-7565.
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6Staywitherjohnny36/100
Staywitherjohnny is a limited performer who has shown little since a placed effort at Dundalk in March. He drops back from 2m1f to a trip he has never tried while making his first visit to Chepstow on ground he has never encountered. His recent form figures read 9-6395.
KTB verdict
Liberate is the KTB Selection. A modest performer who showed his best side when winning over this trip on his penultimate start, he is entitled to be thereabouts if the unknowns of the course and good to soft ground do not prove too difficult. The 3 lb claimer brings a solid record at Chepstow and the steadily-run race should suit his held-up style. Main dangers are Meet Me In Meraki, who has course form and a good record on the ground, and the consistent Ghost Story who drops in class and handles the surface.
KTB Selection Liberate
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 31 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Liberate | 7/2 | William Hill |
| Meet Me In Meraki | 9/2 | Bet365 |
| Ghost Story | 11/4 | 7Bet |
| Stipulation | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Zambezi Magic | 12/1 | BetMGM |
| Staywitherjohnny | 7/2 | BetMGM |
This is the narrative read of the 5:45 Chepstow. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Chepstow racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Chepstow results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course-and-distance winning form?
Meet Me In Meraki has won here over this trip from two starts.
How many of these runners are proven on good to soft ground?
Meet Me In Meraki, Ghost Story and Zambezi Magic have all raced on good to soft with varying degrees of success.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Chepstow?
Rossa Ryan has a 21% strike rate at Chepstow from 208 rides with an A/E of 1.18.
Who has the best recent consistency according to form figures?
Ghost Story with three placed efforts from his last five starts shown by his figures of 3-3343.
Which trainers have a 0% strike rate at the track?
Jim & Suzi Best, John Butler and Ciaran Murphy all have a 0% strike rate at Chepstow.
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