2:22 Gowran Park
This optional claiming race over a mile at Gowran Park on good to firm ground brings together an 18-runner field where the KTB Fit Scores point to a competitive but largely modest bunch. The top-rated horse on the numbers is the selection Bill Silvers on 70, with the remainder of the principals clustered between 59 and 53, suggesting a race that could open up for those suited by the prevailing conditions. Several runners are unproven on good to firm ground while first-time headgear is a recurring theme, adding layers of uncertainty to a contest run on a straight track.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners present the pace shape is strongly positive and a strong gallop looks likely, raising the prospect of the race collapsing late. Minaun View and Passage Of Power are among those who tend to make the running or race prominently, while Hello Stacia could also go forward from a wide draw. This setup is expected to play into the hands of hold-up horses, with several principals and field runners waiting to pounce late, making the ability to produce an effort off a strong pace the key question.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Bill Silvers KTB Selection70/100Modest performer who has failed to win in 19 starts and arrives here on the back of a poor recent run.
- 2Minaun View59/100Modest performer who has shown enough at this track to place here before.
- 3Buttermere Ridge56/100Modest performer who won over 7f here from just two starts at the track.
- 4Slight Of Foot56/100Modest performer who has shown little in seven starts and was well held when ninth on his only previous run here.
- 5Star Of Beauty53/100Star Of Beauty is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, finishing second three times from five attempts.
- 6Jp's Express52/100Modest performer who has won once in eight starts and showed his best effort when winning a handicap at Fairyhouse last month.
- 7Macinamillion51/100Macinamillion is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time and showed little on his only run this year.
- 8Contrite49/100Modest performer who has shown little since a fair debut fourth.
- 9If Not For Grace48/100Lightly raced filly with just two runs this year and very little to recommend her on the bare form of an 08 sequence.
- 10Mythical Rock47/100Modest performer who has shown some consistency at this trip with nine placed efforts from 19 starts.
- 11Land Of The Giants47/100Limited performer who has been on the go for a long time and is still struggling to win races.
- 12Liberate45/100Modest performer who has been out of form all year with a string of poor efforts.
- 13Passage Of Power44/100Lightly raced colt who showed some promise when third on debut over 7f before finishing fifth last time.
- 14Zitkala Sa44/100Limited performer who has shown only modest form in five starts and was beaten over 7 lengths when third here over further last time.
- 15May Night42/100Limited performer who has been out of form for some time and finished down the field in both runs here.
- 16Hello Stacia42/100Hello Stacia showed minor promise when third on debut but ran no sort of race when seventh over this trip at the track last time.
- 17Hastily36/100Limited horse who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts.
- 18Countertop35/100Countertop is a limited performer who has shown very little in seven starts and arrives here on the back of a string of poor efforts.
The contenders
Bill Silvers KTB Fit 70/100
Bill Silvers is a modest performer who has failed to win in 19 starts and arrives here on the back of a poor recent run. The 6-year-old is held up, usually producing his effort late, which could be an advantage given the strong pace likely. First-time headgear is tried today while he remains unproven on good to firm ground having never raced on it. The trainer holds a solid 11 percent strike rate at Gowran from 28 runs, and the jockey has a 50% strike rate at the track from just two rides. Recent form figures read 205P-0 and he is drawn in stall 4.
Minaun View KTB Fit 59/100
Minaun View is a modest performer who has shown enough at this track to place here before. The 4-year-old steps up to a trip he has won over twice from nine attempts, though he arrives in inconsistent form and is unproven on good to firm ground. First-time headgear is now applied and his run-style is to make the running or race on the pace, which will be tested by the strong pace anticipated. He has course form of seventh and third from two starts at Gowran. The trainer has an 11% strike rate at the venue from 299 runs while the jockey is on 11% from 27 rides here.
Buttermere Ridge KTB Fit 56/100
Buttermere Ridge is a modest performer who won over 7f here from just two starts at the track. The 5-year-old steps up to 1m for the first time today having failed to place in six previous attempts at the distance, while the switch to good to firm ground is also an unknown. First-time headgear is now applied and he is a hold-up type who usually produces his effort late. He has a course record of one win from two starts. The trainer has an 11% strike rate at Gowran from 105 runs and the jockey is on 5% from a large sample of 392 rides at the track.
Slight Of Foot KTB Fit 56/100
Slight Of Foot is a modest performer who has shown little in seven starts and was well held when ninth on his only previous run here. The 3-year-old steps up to 1m for the first time today having looked stretched at 7f last time, with the first-time headgear now applied. He is usually held up and produces his effort late, a style that could suit if the race develops as expected. The trainer holds a solid 13% strike rate at Gowran from 60 runs. Recent form reads -69409 and he is drawn in stall 13.
Star Of Beauty KTB Fit 53/100
Star Of Beauty is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, finishing second three times from five attempts. The 3-year-old filly has placed once from two runs at Gowran Park and connections are applying first-time headgear today, but she remains unproven on good to firm ground. She is a hold-up type who usually produces her effort late, which aligns well with the expected strong pace. The trainer has a modest 6% strike rate at the track from 172 runs while the jockey is on 10% from 714 rides here. Recent form figures are 502236.
The rest of the field
Jp's ExpressKTB Fit 52/100
Jp's Express is a modest performer who has won once in eight starts and showed his best effort when winning a handicap at Fairyhouse last month. He drops back to 1m today having looked stretched by 1m0½f on his latest start, though he is unproven on good to firm ground. First-time headgear is now applied and he typically settles in midfield. The yard's modest 7% strike rate at Gowran Park offers no particular encouragement.
MacinamillionKTB Fit 51/100
Macinamillion is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time and showed little on his only run this year. He has never won or placed in two runs at Gowran Park and the trainer operates at a modest 7% strike rate here from 30 runs. Dropping back from 2m to 1m asks a fresh question while he remains unproven on good to firm ground. He is a hold-up type.
ContriteKTB Fit 49/100
Contrite is a modest performer who has shown little since a fair debut fourth. Dropping back to 1m looks a logical move after last time over further, though he has already been tried at this trip without success. First-time headgear is now applied and he is usually held up. The yard's solid 16% strike rate at Gowran gives some encouragement.
If Not For GraceKTB Fit 48/100
If Not For Grace is a lightly raced filly with just two runs this year and very little to recommend her on the bare form of an 08 sequence. She was well held on her only visit to Gowran and now drops back in trip to a distance she has never tried. The trainer's modest 7% strike rate here from 46 runs adds no encouragement. She is a hold-up type.
Mythical RockKTB Fit 47/100
Mythical Rock is a modest performer who has shown some consistency at this trip with nine placed efforts from 19 starts. Placed on his most recent visit to Gowran but has otherwise struggled here and remains unproven on good to firm ground. First-time headgear is now applied and he is a hold-up type. The trainer has a 10% strike rate at the track from 152 runs.
Land Of The GiantsKTB Fit 47/100
Land Of The Giants is a limited performer who has been on the go for a long time and is still struggling to win races. He steps up to a mile for the first time today having been placed at the trip without winning, while he has won his only start on good to firm. The trainer has an 11 percent strike rate from 299 runs at Gowran Park. He typically settles in midfield.
LiberateKTB Fit 45/100
Liberate is a modest performer who has been out of form all year with a string of poor efforts. First time headgear is tried as he drops back to 1m where he has been beaten in four starts already, and he is unproven on good to firm ground. The trainer's modest record at Gowran offers little encouragement on his first run here. He is a hold-up type.
Passage Of PowerKTB Fit 44/100
Passage Of Power is a lightly raced colt who showed some promise when third on debut over 7f before finishing fifth last time. He steps up to 1m today which is an unknown. The trainer has a 14% strike rate from 684 runs at Gowran Park. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
Zitkala SaKTB Fit 44/100
Zitkala Sa is a limited performer who has shown only modest form in five starts and was beaten over 7 lengths when third here over further last time. She drops back to an untried 1m today which asks a fresh question while first-time headgear is also applied. The trainer has a 5% strike rate from 236 runs at Gowran. She is a hold-up type.
May NightKTB Fit 42/100
May Night is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time and finished down the field in both runs here. She drops back to a trip she has won at before but her record on good to firm is modest and the trainer's modest strike rate at Gowran adds little confidence. She is a hold-up type.
Hello StaciaKTB Fit 42/100
Hello Stacia showed minor promise when third on debut but ran no sort of race when seventh over this trip at the track last time. The yard has sent just two runners here so far and the horse remains lightly raced with only two starts, leaving plenty still to learn. She tends to make the running or race on the pace and stall 17 adds another negative on a straight track.
HastilyKTB Fit 36/100
Hastily is a limited horse who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He has never shown much at Gowran Park from eight runs and his trainer is also struggling at the track. He stays this trip and handles good to firm ground but the overall picture is not encouraging. He is a hold-up type.
CountertopKTB Fit 35/100
Countertop is a limited performer who has shown very little in seven starts and arrives here on the back of a string of poor efforts. He steps up markedly in trip from his latest 6f run having already been tried over this distance three times without placing. The trainer has a modest 7% strike rate at Gowran from a large sample of 203 runs. He is a hold-up type.
KTB verdict
Bill Silvers is the KTB Selection. Despite his modest profile and lack of a win in 19 starts, the 6-year-old's hold-up run-style looks well suited to the strong pace that is expected to unfold, and the first-time headgear could spark improvement. The trainer's solid record at Gowran adds to the case while the jockey's figures at the track are eye-catching. His main dangers include Minaun View, who has placed form at the venue and knows the trip, and Star Of Beauty, whose consistent placed efforts at this distance make her a threat if the ground is not an issue. Buttermere Ridge and Slight Of Foot are others who could feature if the race falls apart late.
KTB Selection Bill Silvers
This is the narrative read of the 2:22 Gowran Park. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Gowran Park racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are making their first start on good to firm ground?
Bill Silvers, Minaun View, Buttermere Ridge, Star Of Beauty, Jp's Express, Macinamillion, Contrite, If Not For Grace, Mythical Rock, Liberate, Passage Of Power, Zitkala Sa, Hello Stacia and Countertop are all unproven on good to firm.
How many runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Bill Silvers, Minaun View, Buttermere Ridge, Slight Of Foot, Star Of Beauty, Jp's Express, Contrite, Mythical Rock, Liberate and Zitkala Sa are all fitted with first-time headgear.
Which horses are likely to contest the strong pace?
Minaun View, Passage Of Power and Hello Stacia tend to make the running or race on the pace.
Who has the best recent course form at Gowran Park?
Buttermere Ridge has won here from two starts, while Star Of Beauty, Minaun View and Mythical Rock have all placed at the track.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Gowran in this race?
D K Weld has a 16% strike rate at Gowran from 1309 runs, the highest among trainers represented.
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