2:25 Epsom
This Class 3 Irish EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes over 7f at Epsom on good to soft ground features a field of eight two-year-olds, several of whom arrive with limited experience and modest form. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched, with four principals rated between 50 and 54, underlining the tentative nature of the race and the number of unknowns around trip, ground and course. With a lone-leader pace shape expected, the ability to settle in a prominent position or close effectively from off the pace will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace map points to one clear front-runner with little to pressure it, suggesting an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for closers to overcome on this track. Artemis Star is the most likely to take up the running given its front-running style, while the remainder are largely held-up types including the selection Summer Triangle. The key question is whether the leader can dictate matters or if the held-up runners, racing from low draws, can produce their effort at the right time on the stiff uphill finish.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Taranis54/100
Taranis is a newcomer with no racecourse form to go on. The pedigree and sales background offer the only clues here and the low data confidence means any conclusions remain tentative. Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has a solid 18% strike rate at Epsom from 153 runs while Charles Bishop is riding. The yard's overall trainer-jockey record reads 231/1972 (12%) with an A/E of 0.87. By Space Blues, the colt has a 13% overall win rate on progeny, though he has no course win on record. With the race lacking depth, this debutant is one of the more interesting runners despite the absence of public form.
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2Summer Triangle KTB Selection54/100
Summer Triangle has been placed twice in three starts and showed enough at this track when runner-up last time. Stepping up to 7f having been placed once at the trip already looks a fair ask for a modest performer. The yard know this place well with a 14% strike rate from 56 runs. Recent form figures read 022 and the horse is usually held up, producing its effort late. It has no experience of good to soft ground and remains unproven on it, while the course record shows one placing from one run. The trainer-jockey combination has an overall record of 8/131 (6%) with an A/E of 0.68.
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3L B Double U50/100
L B Double U is lightly raced with just two runs and a modest 6-3 form line so far. It has shown enough to place at today's trip and now tries first-time headgear from a low draw. Trainer's record at Epsom is poor at 5% from 60 runs. The yard and jockey combination shows 39/336 (12%) with an A/E of 1.00. Stepping up in class, the colt has no experience of good to soft ground and remains unproven on it. With only two starts behind him the overall picture is still developing, though the headgear may help him show more.
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4Red Tail50/100
Red Tail showed promise when second on debut then failed to build on it last time. The yard has a modest 12% strike-rate at Epsom from 199 runs. Trip looks fine on what little he has done but with only two runs the overall picture remains unclear. Usually held up and producing its effort late on the limited evidence available, the colt is dropping in class. It has no experience of good to soft ground and remains unproven on it. The trainer-jockey record stands at 51/475 (11%) with an A/E of 0.80.
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5Artemis Star50/100
Artemis Star is lightly raced with just two runs and a modest 53 form line so far. Trainer has a solid 15% strike rate from 20 runs at Epsom. Trip looks a fresh question after one unsuccessful try at this distance and the going remains unknown with too few runs to judge. Tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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6Golden Caturra49/100
Golden Caturra is a lightly raced colt with just two runs behind him and plenty of unknowns at this stage. Has shown ordinary form at 6f so far and now steps up in trip for the first time which asks a fresh question. Trainer has a solid 16% strike rate from 61 runs at Epsom but data confidence remains low given the small sample.
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7Lightenings Legacy49/100
Lightenings Legacy has shown little in two starts so far, finishing ninth then sixth. He steps up to 7f for the first time today having been beaten on his only previous run at the trip. The trainer has a 9% strike rate from 69 runs at Epsom.
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8Angel Of Desire44/100
Angel Of Desire showed fair pace when finishing fourth on debut over this trip. The small sample means there is little else to go on and the trip looks about right for now. Amanda Perrett has a 10% strike rate at Epsom from 137 runs.
KTB verdict
Summer Triangle is the KTB Selection. It has placed twice in three starts, including when runner-up at this track last time, and the yard know Epsom well. The selection is held up and will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time of it. Main dangers are Taranis, an interesting newcomer from a yard with a good Epsom record, and L B Double U who tries first-time headgear from a low draw having shown enough at the trip already. Red Tail cannot be entirely dismissed on the back of its debut promise despite a lacklustre second run.
KTB Selection Summer Triangle
This is the narrative read of the 2:25 Epsom. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Epsom racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Epsom results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is expected to take the uncontested lead?
Artemis Star is the most likely front-runner given its run-style of tending to make the running or race on the pace.
How many runners have previous experience at Epsom?
Two runners have previous course experience: Summer Triangle, who has been placed once from one run here, and no others have course form listed.
Which horses are unproven on good to soft ground?
Summer Triangle, L B Double U, Red Tail, Artemis Star, Golden Caturra, Lightenings Legacy and Angel Of Desire have no runs on good to soft and remain unproven on the ground.
Which principal is wearing first-time headgear?
L B Double U is the only horse equipped with first-time headgear.
Which horse is dropping in class?
Red Tail is the only runner dropping in class for this race.
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