3:44 Down Royal
This 16-runner Molson Coors Beverage Company Handicap over 7f26y at Down Royal on good ground looks typical of the venue’s competitive middle-grade handicaps. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Barbapapa just heading Venetian Star on 63 and 62 respectively, while the remainder sit in the low-to-mid 50s and below. Several runners have shown placed form at the track or over the trip, yet overall the field is populated by modest performers whose recent efforts have been patchy.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated given the presence of at least two habitual front-runners, notably Venetian Star and In The Gloaming. With multiple hold-up types in the field the early gallop could prove testing and set the race up for late closers as the leaders potentially tire in the closing stages. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate matters or whether the race will collapse late in favour of those produced from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Barbapapa KTB Selection63/100
Barbapapa is the KTB Selection. This modest 7-year-old has a solid recent record of placed efforts on decent ground and has won over today’s trip. He handles good going, as shown by one win from ten starts on it, though his overall strike rate remains modest. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and is drawn low in stall 2. Trainer Henry de Bromhead has a strong 22% strike rate at Down Royal from 225 runs with an A/E of 1.13.
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2Venetian Star62/100
Venetian Star is rated just behind the selection on KTB Fit. This modest 3-year-old has shown some spark at Down Royal, finishing second on one of his two starts here. He steps up from 6f to 7f having already been placed three times at the trip without winning and has been competitive on good ground with two places from eight starts. He tends to make the running or race prominently. Trainer Patrick T Foley has a 25% strike rate at the track from a small sample of four runs while the 7lb claimer Reese Holohan has a solid 14% strike rate at the venue from seven rides.
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3Faoladh54/100
Faoladh arrives with a solid record at the track, having won his only previous start at Down Royal. This modest 4-year-old drops back to 7f today after his last run over a mile and has won twice at this trip from seven attempts. He has two wins from ten starts on good ground with four places. Usually held up, he produces his effort late. Trainer A Slattery has a modest 5% strike rate at Down Royal from 58 runs yet the 5lb claimer Sam Coen has a strong 19% strike rate from 16 rides with an A/E of 1.4. Their combined record reads 13/93 (14%) with an A/E of 1.03.
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4Greek Flower53/100
Greek Flower is another modest performer with strong placed form at the track, having been placed on three of four runs at Down Royal without winning. This 7-year-old drops back to 7f today after his last run over a mile and is three from six in the placed column at the trip. He has been placed four times from 14 starts on good ground without winning. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and is drawn wide in stall 15. Trainer John James Feane has a solid 15% strike rate at the track from 52 runs while the jockey has a 6% strike rate from 53 rides. Their combined record reads 6/35 (17%) with an A/E of 1.22.
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5Send Harry47/100
Send Harry has shown bits of form this year but has been largely out of the frame lately. This modest 4-year-old has a win over today’s trip on his record and has placed three times from nine starts on good ground. Usually held up, he produces his effort late. Trainer Miss Evanna McCutcheon is still seeking a first winner from eight runs at Down Royal while the 7lb claimer Jimmy Dalton is also winless at the track from 11 rides. Their combined record reads 0/8 (0%).
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6Minaun View46/100
Minaun View has run well at this track before, finishing second here over a mile last season. This modest 4-year-old drops back to 7f today having been placed without winning at the trip previously, while his record on good ground reads three wins from ten runs. Trainer Adrian McGuinness has a modest 7% strike rate at Down Royal from 216 runs.
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7Thru And Thru46/100
Thru And Thru has been out of the frame in his last four starts and looks vulnerable from a wide draw. This modest 4-year-old has placed twice at this trip but is 0-2 on good ground and makes his first visit to Down Royal. The jockey has a 7% strike rate from 27 rides here while the trainer has no previous runners at the track.
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8In The Gloaming45/100
In The Gloaming has shown little spark in seven runs this year and was well held when sixth of 12 over C&D last time. This modest 3-year-old steps up in trip again today having failed to make an impact in two previous tries at 7f. Trainer A Oliver operates at an 8% strike rate here from 203 runs.
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9Thaloria44/100
Thaloria has won once over this trip from eight attempts. This modest 4-year-old has been well held on her only previous run here and showed little spark on her last three starts. Trainer Miss Natalia Lupini has a solid 12% strike rate at Down Royal from 57 runs.
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10Zheleznaya Dama44/100
Zheleznaya Dama has shown some spark at this trip, winning once from seven attempts, and has placed on good ground. This modest 3-year-old ran creditably when third here on her only previous visit to Down Royal but has been inconsistent overall with a recent form line of P5210. The trainer has yet to strike at the track from 23 attempts.
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11Fortuity44/100
Fortuity has won once over this trip from five attempts but has been inconsistent overall with a recent form line of 021646. This modest 3-year-old has run just once at Down Royal and finished ninth while the yard posts a 12% strike rate here from 570 runs. She goes well enough on good ground with one win and two places from five starts.
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12Alex Belardo43/100
Alex Belardo has won twice at this track from just three runs and also has two wins at today’s trip. This modest 5-year-old is consistent enough on good ground without winning and arrives in decent form after a win and a sixth last time. Trainer John McConnell’s modest 7% strike rate here from 314 runs is a slight negative.
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13Una Matata41/100
Una Matata has been busy this year and is now 0-18 on turf. This modest 5-year-old has run just once at Down Royal and finished fifth, while the trainer’s modest 7% strike rate from 216 runs here adds little encouragement. She stays this trip and has a win on good ground but the recent form figures show little spark.
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14Lar Na Coille41/100
Lar Na Coille is a limited performer who has shown very little in four starts. The yard has a solid 24% strike rate at Down Royal from 183 runs but this one’s recent form of 06-00 offers no encouragement. The trip looks a fresh question after one unplaced run at the distance.
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15King Of Eze41/100
King Of Eze has shown little in three starts so far, finishing down the field each time. This modest 3-year-old drops back from 1m to an untried 7f today which asks a fresh question. Trainer A Oliver holds an 8% strike rate at Down Royal from 203 runs.
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16Go Out35/100
Go Out has a career record of 16 runs and recent form that has been patchy at best. This modest 4-year-old steps up in trip today having been placed twice at this distance without winning, and has shown some competitiveness on good ground with a placed effort from six starts. Trainer Daniel James Murphy has a 0% strike rate from eight runs at Down Royal.
KTB verdict
Barbapapa is the KTB Selection. He is a modest performer with a solid recent record of placed efforts on decent ground, has won over today’s trip and shown he handles good going. Henry de Bromhead’s 22% strike rate at Down Royal from a large sample adds to his claims, and his hold-up style looks well suited to the expected strong pace. The main dangers are Venetian Star, who has shown spark at the track and steps up to a trip where he has been placed three times, and Faoladh, who won his only previous start at Down Royal and drops back to a distance at which he has won twice.
KTB Selection Barbapapa
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 28 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Barbapapa | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Venetian Star | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Faoladh | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Greek Flower | 10/1 | Bet Victor |
| Send Harry | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Minaun View | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Thru And Thru | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| In The Gloaming | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Thaloria | 40/1 | Bet365 |
| Zheleznaya Dama | 9/2 | Dragon Bet |
| Fortuity | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Alex Belardo | 8/1 | Dragon Bet |
| Una Matata | 17/2 | Bet365 |
| Lar Na Coille | 25/1 | Dragon Bet |
| King Of Eze | 33/1 | Bet365 |
| Go Out | 11/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 3:44 Down Royal. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Down Royal racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Down Royal 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?
Barbapapa is suited by the strong pace as he is usually held up and produces his effort late.
How many wins has Faoladh recorded at Down Royal?
Faoladh has won once from one start at Down Royal.
What is Henry de Bromhead’s strike rate at Down Royal?
Henry de Bromhead has a 22% strike rate at Down Royal from 225 runs with an A/E of 1.13.
Which runners are likely to contest the early lead?
Venetian Star and In The Gloaming both tend to make the running or race on the pace.
Has Greek Flower ever won at Down Royal?
Greek Flower has been placed three times from four runs at Down Royal without winning.
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