Race Preview

5:35 Leopardstown

Saturday 12 September 2026 ·26 runners KTB Selection: Minella Rockett · 61/100

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap at Leopardstown is a competitive 26-runner 1m5f handicap on good ground. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with five horses rated between 57 and 61, underlining the depth of a race that features several progressive three-year-olds alongside seasoned handicappers from top yards. Strong pace is anticipated, which according to the KTB numbers should play to those capable of producing their effort late from off the pace.

How the race shapes up

With two or more habitual front-runners present, the pace shape is strongly likely to be on the fast side and could collapse in the closing stages. Wyman is the clear pace angle among the principals and should take them along, while Evanesco and Counting Coup are also likely to be forward. That sets up a race in which the key question is whether the hold-up horses, who dominate the field, can time their runs to pick up the pieces when the leaders tire.

The KTB Fit ranking

1Minella Rockett KTB Selection61/100

Form 2-4511 · John J Nallen

Minella Rockett arrives in excellent order with recent form figures of 2-4511 and a KTB Fit of 61. A 3-year-old who has won two of his last three starts, he acts on good ground having scored twice from three attempts. John J Nallen has a strong 23% strike rate at Leopardstown with an A/E of 1.85, though the colt was only 12th on his sole previous run here. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is drawn widest of all in 26 but that may not be a disadvantage if the race develops as expected with a strong pace up front.
2Port Of Spain59/100

Form 7-5072 · A P O'Brien · Ryan Moore

Port Of Spain brings the highest-profile jockey booking in Ryan Moore and is rated just behind the selection on KTB Fit at 59. The A P O'Brien-trained 3-year-old has form figures of 7-5072 and was a good second last time out. He has a placed effort from his one previous run at Leopardstown and is competitive on good ground without having won on it. Both trainer and jockey have solid course records, with Moore striking at 33%. Usually held up, he should be suited by the strong pace that is forecast.
3The Reverend58/100

Form 9/511- · W P Mullins · Sam Coen(5)

The Reverend is another strong contender on a KTB Fit of 58, trained by W P Mullins. His form reads 9/511- and he has won on his only start on good ground. First-time headgear is now applied as he returns from a break. The yard's 17% strike rate at Leopardstown is respectable, though the horse was unplaced when he ran here previously. Usually held up with medium confidence, he will be hoping the strong pace materialises to give him something to aim at in the straight.
4Wyman58/100

Form 5-3114 · Mrs John Harrington · Shane Foley

Wyman is the main pace influence among the principals with a KTB Fit of 58. A 3-year-old with form figures of 5-3114, he has won two of his last three starts and acts well on good ground. Mrs John Harrington's 10% strike rate at the track is modest but he has already won here from three previous visits. Tending to make the running or race prominently, he is drawn nicely in stall 4 and could prove hard to peg back if the strong pace he helps set does not fully collapse.
5Cannes57/100

Form -21032 · Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Colin Keane

Cannes completes the principals with a KTB Fit of 57. The Joseph Patrick O'Brien-trained 3-year-old has form figures of -21032 and showed consistent form without winning his last two starts. He has already won at Leopardstown from three runs here and scored on his only start on good ground. Colin Keane takes the ride; the trainer and jockey combination has shown 13% success in small-sample terms. Usually held up with high confidence, he is well placed to benefit if the leaders go hard early.
6Factual Fact56/100

Form -21203 · Henry De Bromhead · Conor Cusack(7)

Factual Fact has a KTB Fit of 56 and recent form of -21203. Henry De Bromhead's 8% strike rate at Leopardstown is below average but the yard and jockey combination shows a positive A/E. Usually held up, he has won on good ground but has no course form on record.
7Poetic Sound56/100

Form 6-3170 · G M Lyons · Gary Carroll

Poetic Sound is rated 56 on KTB Fit with form figures of 6-3170. G M Lyons has an 11% strike rate at the track. Usually held up, he has been placed on good ground and was third on his only previous run at Leopardstown.
8Comfort Zone54/100

Form 3-0P01 · Joseph Patrick O'Brien · J M Sheridan

Comfort Zone has a KTB Fit of 54 and form of 3-0P01. Joseph Patrick O'Brien's record here is solid. Usually held up, he has placed form at the track from five previous runs but is only 1-5 on good ground.
9Evanesco54/100

Form 417531 · Charlie Johnston · David Egan

Evanesco is rated 54 on KTB Fit with form of 417531. A front-runner, he will be up with the pace but Charlie Johnston has a 0% strike rate from two runs at Leopardstown. He has no course form and is unplaced in two runs on good ground.
10This Songisforyou53/100

Form 550-29 · Emmet Mullins · James Doyle

This Songisforyou has a KTB Fit of 53 and form of 550-29. Emmet Mullins sends him out with James Doyle in the saddle. Usually held up, he has placed form at Leopardstown and is 2-8 on good ground.
11Truth Be Told53/100

Form 941-12 · M C Grassick · W J Lee

Truth Be Told is rated 53 on KTB Fit with form of 941-12. He has won on his only previous start at Leopardstown. Usually held up, his record on good ground is 1-5.
12Glenroyal53/100

Form 011-08 · Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Chris Hayes

Glenroyal has a KTB Fit of 53 and form of 011-08. Joseph Patrick O'Brien trains him. Usually held up, he is unproven on good ground with no course form on record.
13Dawn Rising52/100

Form -80780 · Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Declan McDonogh

Dawn Rising is rated 52 on KTB Fit with form of -80780. Joseph Patrick O'Brien's yard is again represented. Usually held up, he has placed form at the track and is 2-10 on good ground.
14Madbadanddangerous51/100

Form -27116 · Noel Meade · Gavin Ryan

Madbadanddangerous has a KTB Fit of 51 and form of -27116. Noel Meade trains. Usually held up and unproven on good ground, he has been placed at Leopardstown from two runs.
15Helvic Dream50/100

Form 3700-9 · Noel Meade · Adam Caffrey

Helvic Dream is rated 50 on KTB Fit with form of 3700-9. Another from the Noel Meade yard. Usually held up, he is competitive but winless on good ground and has no placed form from four runs at the track.
16Too Bossy For Us50/100

Form 30-666 · W P Mullins · Ben Coen

Too Bossy For Us has a KTB Fit of 50 and form of 30-666. From the W P Mullins yard. Usually held up, he has been placed on good ground and was third on his only previous start at Leopardstown.
17Counting Coup50/100

Form 141 · Maurice Andrew Ahern · Rory Cleary

Counting Coup is rated 50 on KTB Fit with form of 141. A front-runner, he will be prominent early but Maurice Andrew Ahern has a 0% strike rate at Leopardstown from two runs and the horse is unplaced in two starts on good ground.
18Yousaynothingatall50/100

Form 331321 · Joseph Patrick O'Brien · Oisin Murphy

Yousaynothingatall has a KTB Fit of 50 and form of 331321. Joseph Patrick O'Brien trains with Oisin Murphy riding. Usually held up, he has won on good ground and was third on his only run at the track.
19Diamond Exchange48/100

Form 187518 · Mrs John Harrington · Keithen Kennedy(5)

Diamond Exchange is rated 48 on KTB Fit with form of 187518. Mrs John Harrington trains. Usually held up, he has won at Leopardstown from four previous runs and is 2-7 on good ground.
20Immutable46/100

Form 35-922 · Joseph G Murphy · Luke McAteer

Immutable has a KTB Fit of 46 and form of 35-922. Joseph G Murphy trains. Usually held up and unproven on good ground, he was fifth on his only previous run at Leopardstown.
21Westminster Moon46/100

Form 071004 · A J Martin · Robbie Colgan

Westminster Moon is rated 46 on KTB Fit with form of 071004. A J Martin trains. Usually held up, he is 1-7 on good ground but was only 10th on his sole run at the track.
22Star Harbour43/100

Form 255223 · Adrian McGuinness · Reese Holohan(7)

Star Harbour has a KTB Fit of 43 and form of 255223. Adrian McGuinness trains. Usually held up, he has placed form at Leopardstown from five runs and is 2-15 on good ground.
23Night Moon43/100

Form 031/13 · W P Mullins · Andrew Slattery

Night Moon is rated 43 on KTB Fit with form of 031/13. From the W P Mullins yard. Usually held up, he is 1-4 on good ground but has no course form on record.
24En Or42/100

Form 090-09 · A J Martin

En Or has a KTB Fit of 42 and form of 090-09. A J Martin trains. Usually held up, he is 2-8 on good ground but has no win or place from four previous runs at Leopardstown.
25War Rooms42/100

Form 0-8016 · Gerard Keane · Seamie Heffernan

War Rooms is rated 42 on KTB Fit with form of 0-8016. Gerard Keane trains with Seamie Heffernan riding. Usually held up, he is competitive but winless on good ground and has no win or place from three runs at the track.
26Sunny South West42/100

Form 225 · Edward F Power · Jack Cleary(5)

Sunny South West has a KTB Fit of 42 and form of 225. Edward F Power trains. Usually held up, he is 2-5 on good ground but was only sixth on his sole previous run at Leopardstown.

KTB verdict

Minella Rockett is the KTB Selection. He arrives in top form with two wins from his last three starts, acts on the ground, and is perfectly suited by the strongly anticipated pace collapse from the front. The combination of his hold-up style and the trainer's above-average record at Leopardstown make him the one to beat. His chief dangers are likely to be Port Of Spain with the assistance of Ryan Moore, the Mullins-trained The Reverend in first-time headgear, the pace-setting Wyman, and the course-winning Cannes.

KTB Selection Minella Rockett

This is the narrative read of the 5:35 Leopardstown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Leopardstown racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Leopardstown results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.

Questions about this race

Which horse is best suited by the expected strong pace?

Hold-up horses are favoured by the strong pace that is likely to collapse late, with Minella Rockett, Port Of Spain, The Reverend and Cannes all usually held up.

Who is the main front-runner in the race?

Wyman tends to make the running or race on the pace and is the clearest pace angle among the principals.

Which trainers have the best strike rates at Leopardstown in this field?

John J Nallen has a 23% strike rate at Leopardstown with an A/E of 1.85, while W P Mullins has a 17% strike rate.

How many horses in the field have already won at Leopardstown?

Wyman, Cannes, Truth Be Told and Diamond Exchange have all won at the track.

Which 3-year-olds are prominent in the KTB Fit ratings?

Minella Rockett (61), Port Of Spain (59), Wyman (58) and Cannes (57) are the highest-rated 3-year-olds.

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