4:39 Laytown
This 0-0 claiming race over six furlongs at Laytown features a field of 12 modest performers, most of whom are unproven on the surface and dropping back in trip from longer distances. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched, reflecting a race where recent form has been patchy and few horses arrive in strong heart. With the majority of runners tending to race held up, the overall picture is one of limited quality and plenty of unknowns regarding the ground and the unusual track.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a lone leader with little to pressure it, suggesting an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for closers to bridge in the latter stages. Goldrush Kid is the one horse with a pronounced front-running style and is expected to take up that role from draw 1, setting a tempo that may not be seriously challenged early. The remainder of the field, dominated by hold-up types including the selection, will be looking to produce their efforts late, raising the key question of whether the leader can get away or if the pack can reel him in on this tight, quirky track.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Land Of The Giants KTB Selection60/100
Land Of The Giants is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year and is dropping back to an untried 6f. The yard has a solid 20% strike rate from 71 runs at Laytown and this one has the benefit of a recent run. Ground is an unknown. Adrian McGuinness and Adam Caffrey combine with a trainer-jockey record of 104/1042 (10%) and an A/E of 0.94, while the trainer's course record stands at 20% with an A/E of 1.17. The jockey has a 30% strike rate at the venue with an A/E of 1.64 from 10 rides. Usually held up and producing its effort late from draw 8, this 4-year-old will be looking to come from off the pace in a race where the leader may get an easy time up front.
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2Goldrush Kid56/100
Goldrush Kid is a limited performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and was pulled up last time. He drops back to 6f having been placed at the trip earlier in his career, though he has looked more effective over longer distances of late. The trainer has only one run at Laytown so far while the 5-year-old makes his first appearance here on ground he has never tried. Patrick Magee and Jack Kearney combine with a trainer-jockey record of 2/54 (4%) and an A/E of 0.34. The trainer boasts a 100% strike rate at Laytown from one run with an A/E of 7. This front-runner tends to make the running or race on the pace from draw 1 and is set to enjoy an uncontested lead according to the race's pace shape.
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3She's Ideal50/100
She's Ideal is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with recent efforts including two wins but also some poor runs. She drops back to 6f today having last run over a mile and shown no success in two previous attempts at the trip. Trainer Adrian McGuinness has a solid 20% strike rate at Laytown from 71 runs while this is the horse's first appearance here and she remains unproven on the ground. The trainer and jockey record stands at 0/13 (0%) with an A/E of 0.00. James Ryan has a 0% strike rate at the venue from three rides with an A/E of 0. Usually held up and producing its effort late from a wide draw of 12, she will need to overcome both the trip and the pace setup to get involved.
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4Blue Anthem50/100
Blue Anthem is a limited performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and sits on a string of modest efforts. He has placed twice at this trip from nine attempts but has never won over it and arrives with plenty to prove on this surface having never raced on it before. The yard holds a 14% strike rate at Laytown from seven runs while W J Lee is riding here for the first time. Gerard O'Leary and W J Lee combine with a trainer-jockey record of 2/15 (13%) and an A/E of 1.21. Usually held up and producing its effort late from draw 2, this 4-year-old will be hoping the leader does not get too far clear in a race that shapes for the front-runner.
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5Heart Of Eternity48/100
Heart Of Eternity is a limited performer who has struggled for form this year with a string of poor efforts. It drops back to 6f having failed to make an impact at that trip before, while the switch to this surface adds another unknown. Trainer Denis Gerard Hogan has a solid 19% strike rate here from 21 runs. Usually held up and producing its effort late from draw 11, this 4-year-old will need to find significant improvement to feature. The jockey course record is unavailable and the horse arrives without a recent run of note.
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6Distillate45/100
Distillate is a limited horse who has won once from one run at Laytown. He drops back to 6f today having last run over a mile and his placed form at the trip without winning is modest. Trainer Adrian McGuinness has a solid 20% strike rate from 71 runs at the track while jockey Sam Coen is unproven here. Typically settles in midfield.
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7Thompson Gunner45/100
Thompson Gunner is a limited performer who has been busy this year but has shown only modest form of late with a string of mid-field finishes. He drops back from a mile to an untried 6f today which asks a fresh question, while the switch to Laytown represents his first run at the venue. The trainer has had too few runners here to form any clear pattern and the horse remains unproven on this ground. Usually held up and producing its effort late.
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8Aurora Nova43/100
Aurora Nova is a limited performer who has been well below form this year with a string of poor efforts. She steps up from 5f to a trip she has won at before though that success is now some way back. The yard and jockey have no record at Laytown while she remains unproven on the surface. Usually held up and producing its effort late.
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9Spirit Of Eagles43/100
Spirit Of Eagles is a limited performer who has shown a bit of placed form at this track, finishing second on his most recent visit. He drops back to 6f having won at the trip earlier in his career though he is 1 from 20 at the distance overall and was well held over 7f last time. Trainer has only three runs at Laytown so far which is too small a sample to judge while the horse remains unproven on this ground. Usually held up and producing its effort late.
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10Dinamine41/100
Dinamine is a limited performer who has been in and out of form this year. He drops back to 6f having last run over a mile and is placed but unproven at the trip while having no experience on this ground. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 15 runs here. Usually held up and producing its effort late.
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11Cordouan38/100
Cordouan is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time with five runs this year producing no better than ninth. He has won once from two starts at Laytown so the track is clearly no problem, though he drops back from a mile to 6f today having failed to make an impact in his only previous try at the trip. The trainer has no recorded runners at this course and the horse remains unproven on the current ground. Usually held up and producing its effort late.
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12Devil's Angel35/100
Devil's Angel is a limited 10-year-old with a career total of 50 runs and recent form that reads 5740-0. He showed a bit when fourth on his only visit to Laytown but steps up from 5f to 6f today, a trip he has won at before. The trainer has only one run at the track so far while the horse remains unproven on this ground. Usually held up and producing its effort late.
KTB verdict
Land Of The Giants is the KTB Selection. A modest performer who has been in and out of form this year, he drops back to an untried 6f but benefits from a recent run and the yard's strong 20% strike rate at Laytown from 71 runs. The combination with Adam Caffrey, who has a 30% strike rate at the venue, adds to the appeal for a horse that will be held up and produced late. His main dangers are likely to be Goldrush Kid, who is set to enjoy an uncontested lead, and She's Ideal, who represents the same powerful yard and has shown winning form this year despite mixed efforts.
KTB Selection Land Of The Giants
This is the narrative read of the 4:39 Laytown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Laytown racecard. 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?
Goldrush Kid, whose run-style is front-runner and who has little to pressure it according to the lone leader pace shape.
How many principals are trained by Adrian McGuinness?
Two: Land Of The Giants and She's Ideal, both with the yard's 20% strike rate at Laytown from 71 runs.
Which horse has a previous win at Laytown from a single run?
Distillate, who is 1 from 1 at the course.
Which runner has the best jockey strike rate at Laytown among those with recorded rides?
Adam Caffrey with a 30% strike rate and A/E of 1.64 from 10 rides.
How many of the field are completely unproven on the ground?
All 12 runners have no runs on the unknown surface and remain unproven on it.
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