2:12 Downpatrick
The Randox Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick over 2m1f165y on good ground brings together a field of nine with limited depth. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched in the mid-40s apart from Euro Agent who stands out on 53. Most of the principals arrive with modest recent form and questions to answer on trip or experience, while the yard and jockey stats at the track provide the main pointers in a race that lacks standout quality.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates no obvious leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. With the top four principals all registering as held-up types, along with several others, the race is likely to develop into a test of timing from off the pace rather than sustained speed. The key question will be which horse can produce its effort at the right moment in a race where the ability to quicken off a steady gallop may prove decisive.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Euro Agent KTB Selection53/100
Euro Agent is a useful performer who has shown enough in recent runs to suggest he remains competitive at this level. He finished a clear second over this course and trip on his penultimate start and has the benefit of a good record here from limited tries. Trainer Gordon Elliott has an 18% strike-rate at Downpatrick from a huge sample while jockey Danny Gilligan posts a 12% rate from 49 rides at the track. The drop back in trip is an unknown. Held up in his races, he usually produces his effort late and has been placed once from one run on good ground.
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2Eben Zaabeel47/100
Eben Zaabeel has shown little in 12 starts and was beaten a long way on his only run this year. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him while his record on good ground reads 0-2. The trainer holds a solid 13% strike rate here from a big sample and the jockey is operating above expectations with an 18% strike rate from his 17 rides at Downpatrick. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and arrives with a modest profile overall.
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3Fairy Meadow46/100
Fairy Meadow has very little to recommend him on the figures after two poor efforts. The drop back in trip is an unknown and the small sample means there is no reliable read on ground or course. Trainer and jockey both have solid records at Downpatrick but that is the only positive here. He is usually held up and produces his effort late, with one run on good ground yielding no win or place.
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4Mr Caulfield44/100
Mr Caulfield is lightly raced with a modest recent form record of 2-P102 and only two runs in the last year. He drops back in trip today having been well held over 2m5f last time and with just one previous run at this shorter distance that brought no success. Trainer has a 7% strike rate from 202 runs at Downpatrick while jockey is on 8% from 39 rides here. He is usually held up though with limited evidence, and has been placed once from two starts on good ground.
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5Tullynakill44/100
Tullynakill is a debutant with no racecourse experience so far. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at Downpatrick from a large sample suggests limited expectations first time while the jockey has a solid 10% record here from plenty of rides.
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6Cap Bernat44/100
Cap Bernat has shown fair form around here with two placed efforts from six runs but remains winless at Downpatrick after 13 years old. The yard has failed to land a winner from ten attempts at the track while the jockeys modest 8 percent strike rate from a big sample is nothing to shout about either. Placed once from three starts on good ground yet still without a victory at this trip, he is usually held up.
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7Nelliestar43/100
Nelliestar has shown very little in two starts this year and brings a modest overall profile from 13 career runs. The yard has no previous runners at Downpatrick while Paddy Cleary is 0-12 at the track. He has failed to place in five runs on good ground and is unplaced in both starts at this trip, typically settling in midfield.
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8Fox Walk42/100
Fox Walk has shown mixed results in a light career with recent form of 5P3-13 and only one run in the last year. Dropping back in trip to an untried 2m1¾f poses a fresh question. Both trainer and jockey have modest records at Downpatrick and he is usually held up though with limited evidence.
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9Greenroad Girl40/100
Greenroad Girl has shown very little so far with a pulled-up effort and a modest sixth on her only two starts. She was well beaten when sixth over this trip here last time and the yard's modest 3% strike-rate at Downpatrick offers no encouragement. The jockey has a fair 10% record at the track but with so few runs overall this is a low-confidence profile, and she is usually held up.
KTB verdict
Euro Agent stands out as the KTB Selection. He has shown enough in recent runs to remain competitive at this level, finished a clear second over the course and trip on his penultimate start, and enjoys a good record here from limited tries. Gordon Elliott’s 18% strike rate at Downpatrick from a huge sample adds further strength. His main dangers are Eben Zaabeel, who benefits from a trainer and jockey with solid course figures, and Fairy Meadow, whose only real positive is the combined record of trainer and jockey at the track.
KTB Selection Euro Agent
This is the narrative read of the 2:12 Downpatrick. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Downpatrick racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Downpatrick 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 form at Downpatrick over this trip?
Euro Agent finished second over this course and trip on his penultimate start and has a placed record from one run here.
How many principals are held-up types?
All four principals are described as held up, usually producing their effort late.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Downpatrick in this field?
Emmet Mullins has a 20% strike rate at Downpatrick from 20 runs.
Which horse is making its racecourse debut?
Tullynakill is a debutant with no racecourse experience so far.
What is the only positive identified for Fairy Meadow?
The solid records of trainer Emmet Mullins and jockey Donagh Meyler at Downpatrick.
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