5:45 Ripon
A small but competitive Class 4 handicap over two miles at Ripon on good ground brings five runners together. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched between 55 and 41, suggesting a race where small margins and how the uncontested lead is handled will matter. With only one clear front-runner on the card and the rest inclined to race held up, the shape looks set to favour the horse who can dictate matters unchallenged.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as a lone leader with medium confidence, pointing to one horse making the running with little to pressure it early. This should create an uncontested lead that is often difficult for held-up runners to bridge in the straight. The key question is whether the prominent runner can ration his stamina effectively over the new trip while the closers time their efforts to reel him in late.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Talismans Time KTB Selection55/100
Talismans Time is a fair performer who has shown some consistency in recent starts but has failed to win in nine career runs. He steps up to 2m for the first time today having been unsuccessful in two previous attempts at the trip while his only win on good ground came from four runs. The trainer holds a solid 25% strike rate at Ripon while the jockey operates at 10%. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time up front. The combination of yard form at the track and the horse's recent placed efforts gives him a solid platform from a draw of five.
-
2Sax Appeal53/100
Sax Appeal is a fair handicapper who has been consistent enough this year without winning, placing in three of his last four starts. He has won at this trip in the past though he steps back from 2m2f today, while his record on good ground reads one win from six runs. The yard has an 11% strike rate at Ripon from 104 runs and the jockey is 7% from 165 rides here. His run-style is to make the running or race on the pace, which in a field with a lone-leader shape could see him take the uncontested lead from draw two. That front-running role may prove advantageous if he can stretch the held-up types at the end of two miles.
-
3Tarbat Ness47/100
Tarbat Ness is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year but has solid placed form at Ripon including a second here. He drops back to a trip he has won at before though his recent efforts at around this distance have been mixed. The trainer's modest record at the track is offset by the jockey's solid strike rate here. Stepping up in class, he is another who usually races held up and produces his effort late. With three previous runs at Ripon yielding a second and a fourth, the course knows him well and the good ground is within his range even if wins have been scarce lately.
-
4Zimmerman43/100
Zimmerman is a modest performer who has won once from eight starts at Ripon and steps up to 2m today having already scored three times at the trip. Recent form of 361114 shows three wins in the last six runs but he is only placed twice from 17 starts on good ground without a victory. The trainer has a 10% strike rate from 2427 runs here while the jockey records 13% from 1160 rides. Usually held up, he will be looking to come from off the pace in what looks a stiff task stepping up in class.
-
5Gibside41/100
Gibside is a modest performer who has won twice from four runs at Ripon and also has a win at today's trip on his record. Recent form has been ordinary and he steps up in distance today having last run over a mile and six. The trainer has a solid 10% strike-rate here from a huge sample while the claiming jockey is still seeking a first course winner from nine rides. Another held-up runner, his record on good ground is respectable but the ordinary recent efforts suggest he will find this competitive.
KTB verdict
Talismans Time is the KTB Selection. A fair performer with recent consistency and the benefit of a yard that strikes at 25% at Ripon, he is taken to step up to the two-mile trip effectively from off the pace. The uncontested lead should make the race interesting, but his held-up style looks well suited to picking up the pieces if the leader falters. Sax Appeal is the obvious danger if allowed to dictate from the front, while Tarbat Ness cannot be dismissed given his placed course form and the booking of Mulrennan.
KTB Selection Talismans Time
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 26 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Talismans Time | 10/3 | Bet365 |
| Sax Appeal | 9/2 | 7Bet |
| Tarbat Ness | 5/2 | 7Bet |
| Zimmerman | 15/8 | William Hill |
| Gibside | 14/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 5:45 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 stepping up in class?
Both Tarbat Ness and Zimmerman are stepping up in class.
Who is the only front-runner in the field?
Sax Appeal tends to make the running or race on the pace.
How many previous wins has Zimmerman had at this trip?
Zimmerman has already scored three times at the trip.
Which horse has the best recent form figures on paper?
Zimmerman's recent form of 361114 shows three wins in his last six runs.
How many times has Gibside won at Ripon?
Gibside has won twice from four runs at Ripon.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies