4:25 Naas
This 4:25 Naas Care At Home Nursery Handicap over a mile on good to yielding ground features a field of 14 two-year-olds, most of them with limited form and several unproven on the trip or surface. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Two Brigade heading the list on 57, followed closely by Wecouldavehaditall on 56 and Highest Order on 55. Overall the numbers point to a modest contest where experience, stamina reserves and the ability to handle an uncontested lead will be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, suggesting Old Joanie is likely to get an uncontested lead from her prominent run-style while the remainder of the field, dominated by held-up types, sit off it. With so many runners preferring to produce their effort late, including the top three in the KTB Fit order, the race is set up for the leader to potentially get away if not challenged early. The key question is whether any of the closers can bridge the gap on good to yielding ground over this new trip, or if the leader's advantage will prove decisive.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Two Brigade KTB Selection57/100
Two Brigade is a modest performer on the balance of his five runs to date with form figures of 85686. He showed nothing special when fifth on his only visit to Naas and now steps up from 6f to 1m for the first time which asks a fresh question. Trainer M D O'Callaghan has a solid 12% strike rate from 265 runs at the track while apprentice Reese Holohan is making his debut here. The yard and jockey combination shows a 2/8 (25%) record. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the race to fall right given the lone leader pace shape. His KTB Fit score of 57 tops the field.
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2Wecouldavehaditall56/100
Wecouldavehaditall is a modest performer who has finished seventh and ninth in two of his three starts. He was well beaten on his only visit to Naas and now steps up from 7f to an untried 1m trip. Trainer Daniel McLoughlin has a 10% strike rate from 21 runs at the track while jockey Ben Coen has no recorded rides here. The trainer and jockey record stands at 10/88 (11%) with an A/E of 1.04. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he faces the same challenge as several others in trying to close on an uncontested leader. His KTB Fit score of 56 places him right behind the selection.
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3Highest Order55/100
Highest Order is a modest performer who has shown little in three starts at this trip. The yard has a solid 15% strike rate at Naas from a big sample. Lightly raced so the trip and ground remain open questions. Trainer G M Lyons and jockey Colin Keane combine with a 697/3537 (20%) record and an A/E of 0.93. Usually held up and producing his effort late on limited evidence, he will be hoping the race sets up for closers against the lone leader. His KTB Fit score of 55 keeps him firmly in the mix among the principals.
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4Old Joanie49/100
Old Joanie is a modest performer who has shown ordinary form across four starts, most recently finishing third in a nursery. She has a bit of placed form at this trip but the small sample means her effectiveness on good to yielding ground remains unknown. The trainer holds a solid 8% strike rate from 38 runs at Naas. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, she is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the lone leader pace shape and could prove hard to peg back. Her KTB Fit score of 49 makes her the best of the remainder among the principals.
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5Cromane48/100
Cromane has shown only modest form in three starts at sprint trips and now steps up to 1m for the first time. That distance is an unknown and the colt remains lightly raced overall. The yard records a modest 8% strike rate at Naas from a large sample. Usually held up and producing his effort late on limited evidence, he will need to find improvement to feature. Trainer Joseph G Murphy and jockey G F Carroll have a 115/1180 (10%) record with an A/E of 0.95. His KTB Fit score of 48 rounds off the principals.
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6Supreme Act48/100
Supreme Act is a modest performer who has shown little in three starts so far with form figures of 870. He steps up to 1m for the first time today after racing over 7f last time and the longer trip poses a fresh question. Trainer at Naas operates at a 6% strike rate from 286 runs. Usually held up and producing his effort late.
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7Spanish View47/100
Spanish View is a limited horse who has finished last on all three starts to date. The step up from 7f to a mile is an unknown and the trainer's modest record at Naas offers little encouragement. Neve Bennett's 7 lb claim helps but there is not enough in the form to suggest a sudden change in fortunes. He has one run on good to yielding, without placing.
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8Golden Arizona46/100
Golden Arizona is a modest performer who has shown only poor form in three starts to date, finishing no better than fourth. First-time headgear is now applied as he steps up to an untried 1m trip, which poses a fresh question. Trainer's modest record at Naas offers little encouragement. Typically settles in midfield.
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9Armarone's Girl44/100
Armarone's Girl is a modest filly who has shown little in three starts to date and finished a remote 14th on her only visit to this track. She steps up to 1m for the first time today having looked stretched at 7f last time. Trainer is 0-8 at Naas. Usually held up and producing her effort late.
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10Rathbran Lady44/100
Rathbran Lady is a limited filly whose four runs have produced no better than fifth place. She steps up to an untested 1m today which asks a fresh question of her stamina. The trainer operates at a 6% strike rate from 218 runs at Naas. Usually held up and producing her effort late.
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11Thelymitra44/100
Thelymitra is a modest performer on the balance of four runs to date and looks up against it from a wide draw. Trainer at Naas has a solid 12% strike rate from 644 runs. Steps up to 1m for the first time today after last appearing over 7f. Usually held up and producing his effort late.
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12Elyatta42/100
Elyatta is a modest performer who has shown some ability on her last two starts, finishing fourth and second in modest company. Steps up to 1m for the first time today having been well held over 7f last time, which asks a fresh question. Trainer has a solid 13% strike rate from 1184 runs at Naas. Usually held up and producing her effort late.
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13Panhandle38/100
Panhandle is a limited sort who has shown very little in three starts to date, finishing no closer than eighth. Steps up to 1m for the first time today having looked short of pace at shorter trips, which could help but asks a fresh question of a horse with only modest ability. First-time headgear is now fitted while the trainer has a solid 9% strike rate at Naas from a big sample. Usually held up and producing his effort late.
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14Tina Tereshkova37/100
Tina Tereshkova has shown little in four starts to date and sits right at the bottom of the ratings. The move up from 6f to 1m asks a fresh question of a limited performer who has already been well beaten at shorter. Trainer Andrew Kinirons has a 5% strike rate from 20 runs at Naas while Julian Pietropaolo is on board. Usually held up and producing her effort late.
KTB verdict
Two Brigade is the KTB Selection at the head of a modest field. His ability is limited on the balance of five runs but he tops the KTB Fit scores and represents a yard with a solid record at Naas, while the step up to a mile could bring improvement from his held-up style. The uncontested lead likely to be enjoyed by Old Joanie poses the biggest threat if she gets into a rhythm, with Highest Order and Wecouldavehaditall also capable of closing if the pace collapses in their favour. The race looks likely to be decided by which of the closers can best handle the trip and surface against the lone leader.
KTB Selection Two Brigade
This is the narrative read of the 4:25 Naas. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Naas racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Naas results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is likely to get the uncontested lead?
Old Joanie, whose front-running run-style aligns with the lone leader pace shape.
How many of the field are stepping up to 1m for the first time?
The majority, including Two Brigade, Wecouldavehaditall, Cromane, Supreme Act, Spanish View, Golden Arizona, Armarone's Girl, Rathbran Lady, Thelymitra, Elyatta, Panhandle and Tina Tereshkova.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Naas in this race?
G M Lyons with a 15% strike rate from a big sample for Highest Order.
Who rides the KTB Selection and what is their Naas record?
Apprentice Reese Holohan (7) who has an 11% strike rate at Naas with an A/E of 1.56 from 9 rides.
Which runners have course form at Naas?
Two Brigade (fifth), Wecouldavehaditall (12th), Armarone's Girl (14th) and Panhandle (14th).
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