5:25 Limerick
This 5:25 Limerick rated race over six and a half furlongs on firm ground brings together an eleven-runner field where the KTB numbers are tightly bunched at the top. Alfred Tennyson heads the Fit ratings on 51, just ahead of Dancing Saxon and Ocean Echo on 50, with Morehampton a point further back on 49. The race features several runners stepping out in first-time headgear while most remain unproven on a surface as quick as this.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a strongly-run contest with several prominent runners likely to contest the lead early. Alfred Tennyson from stall 11 and Dancing Saxon are both expected to be forward, while Morehampton and Send Harry can also show early speed from lower draws. The key question is whether the leaders can sustain the gallop on this firm surface or whether it will play into the hands of a more patiently ridden contender coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Alfred Tennyson KTB Selection51/100
- 2Dancing Saxon50/100
- 3Ocean Echo50/100
- 4Morehampton49/100
- 5Clonmacash46/100
- 6Western Bandit46/100
- 7Inishfallen43/100
- 8Tokyo Treasure43/100
- 9Apache Outlaw42/100
- 10Usuario Amigo41/100
- 11Send Harry41/100
The contenders
Alfred Tennyson KTB Fit 51/100
Alfred Tennyson is the KTB Selection. A course winner here from his one previous visit, he brings solid recent form figures of 634720 and steps out in first-time headgear. The Denis Gerard Hogan yard has a 7% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.74 from 432 runs, while Alan Casey has a 0% strike rate at the track from four rides. The four-year-old is unproven on firm ground having had no previous runs on it. He is drawn in stall 11 and is likely to be forward in the race.
Dancing Saxon KTB Fit 50/100
Dancing Saxon arrives with strong recent form that includes a win on his latest start. The Joseph Patrick O'Brien-trained three-year-old has a trainer and jockey record of 28/156 with an A/E of 1.08. The yard posts a 17% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.9 from 363 runs, though J M Sheridan has a 5% strike rate at the venue from 76 rides. Like many here, he is unproven on firm ground. He has no course form on record and is expected to be prominent from draw 9.
Ocean Echo KTB Fit 50/100
Ocean Echo has shown consistent if not spectacular form with figures of 06246. Trained by Mark Fahey, who has a 12% strike rate at Limerick and an A/E of 1.31 from 57 runs, he is ridden by Gavin Ryan who has an 8% strike rate at the track from 53 rides. The pair combine with a trainer and jockey record of 16/105 and an A/E of 1.66. The three-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record. He is likely to race in mid-division or just off the pace from stall 6.
Morehampton KTB Fit 49/100
Morehampton has recent form figures of 0-4050 and now tries first-time headgear. J P Murtagh's yard has a 14% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.79 from 94 runs, while Rory Mulligan has a 0% strike rate at the track from eight rides. The trainer and jockey partnership shows 15/93 with an A/E of 1.13. The three-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record. Drawn in stall 3, he is one of the more likely pace influences in the race.
Clonmacash KTB Fit 46/100
Clonmacash brings recent form of 195354 and now sports first-time headgear. Adrian McGuinness has a 7% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.7 from 153 runs, while Adam Caffrey posts a 9% strike rate at the track from 33 rides. Their combined record stands at 98/994 with an A/E of 0.93. The five-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record. He should be capable of racing in a handy position from draw 7.
The rest of the field
Western BanditKTB Fit 46/100
Western Bandit has recent form figures of 05773 and now tries first-time headgear. Anthony Mullins has a 12% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.89 from 153 runs and Scott McCullagh has a 10% strike rate at the track from 41 rides. The four-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has course form of one fifth-place finish without winning or placing.
InishfallenKTB Fit 43/100
Inishfallen has recent form of 424600 and steps out in first-time headgear. Stephen Thorne has a 0% strike rate at Limerick from four runs and Jack Kearney has a 0% strike rate at the track from 23 rides. The five-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record.
Tokyo TreasureKTB Fit 43/100
Tokyo Treasure has recent form of 838- and now tries first-time headgear. Patrick T Foley has a 5% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.57 from 37 runs while Luke McAteer has a 4% strike rate at the track from 73 rides. The four-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record.
Apache OutlawKTB Fit 42/100
Apache Outlaw has recent form of 680643 and now sports first-time headgear. Adrian McGuinness has a 7% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.7 from 153 runs while Shay Wallace has a 0% strike rate at the track from two rides. The six-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record.
Usuario AmigoKTB Fit 41/100
Usuario Amigo has recent form of -97700 and now tries first-time headgear. Richard John O'Brien has a 12% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.86 from 50 runs and Jack Cleary has a 10% strike rate at the track from 20 rides. The five-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has course form of three runs without winning or placing.
Send HarryKTB Fit 41/100
Send Harry has recent form of 12-062 and now steps out in first-time headgear. Miss Evanna McCutcheon has a 0% strike rate at Limerick from 17 runs and Jimmy Dalton has a 0% strike rate at the track from six rides. The four-year-old is unproven on firm ground and has no course form on record.
KTB verdict
Alfred Tennyson is the KTB Selection. His course win from a previous visit to Limerick stands out in a race where several principals remain unproven on firm ground. The first-time headgear may help him build on consistent recent form while his forward run-style should see him well placed in a race that is set to be strongly run. Dancing Saxon and Ocean Echo head the dangers on the KTB Fit ratings, while Morehampton and Clonmacash are also capable of playing a part if the headgear brings improvement.
KTB Selection Alfred Tennyson
This is the narrative read of the 5:25 Limerick. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Limerick racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course-winning form at Limerick?
Alfred Tennyson has won here from one previous visit.
How many runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Nine runners are wearing first-time headgear: Alfred Tennyson, Morehampton, Clonmacash, Western Bandit, Inishfallen, Tokyo Treasure, Apache Outlaw, Usuario Amigo and Send Harry.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Limerick in this field?
Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a 17% strike rate at Limerick.
Which horses are expected to be prominent early?
Alfred Tennyson, Dancing Saxon, Morehampton and Send Harry are all likely to be forward.
How many principals are unproven on firm ground?
All five principals are unproven on firm ground.
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