1:35 Roscommon
This 1m7f135y Athleague Maiden Hurdle at Roscommon on good ground features a 15-runner field where experience is thin on the ground and several lightly raced or unraced types line up. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Direct Approach on 53 with Sonas just a point behind on 52, indicating a race where small margins and how the uncontested pace shape plays out could prove decisive. Gordon Elliott holds two of the principals and has solid course statistics, while the overall picture is one of modest ability across the board with first-time headgear and trip queries adding layers of uncertainty.
How the race shapes up
With a high-confidence lone leader pace shape and only one horse noted as tending to make the running, the race is likely to see Abando take an uncontested lead from the front. The remainder of the field, dominated by held-up types including the top two in the market and several with high-confidence late-run styles, will be asked to close late off what could be a steady gallop. That scenario poses the key question of whether any closer can bridge the gap in a race where the leader may prove hard to peg back on this stiff track.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Direct Approach KTB Selection53/100
Direct Approach is a useful performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground without winning. He steps up in trip today having been well held over 1m4f last time and his sole run at this distance brought no success. First-time headgear is now fitted while the yard and jockey both hold solid records at Roscommon. Gordon Elliott's 17% strike rate and Jack Kennedy's 16% at the track add to the appeal, as does the trainer-jockey combination's 19% record from 3436 runs together. Usually held up and producing its effort late, he will need to time his challenge well against the uncontested leader in a race where the KTB Fit score of 53 tops the field.
-
2Sonas52/100
Sonas showed some promise when second on debut before running poorly at longer distance last time. The drop back in trip today asks a fresh question of this lightly raced 4-year-old. Trainer Henry de Bromhead has an 18% strike rate from 175 runs at Roscommon while jockey Darragh O'Keeffe records an 11% strike rate from 96 rides here. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and his recent form of 82 leaves him with scope as a maiden. Usually held up with limited evidence, he will be coming from off the pace in a contest where the KTB Fit of 52 places him right behind the selection.
-
3Telegram Sam49/100
Telegram Sam is lightly raced with only three career runs and a recent P-43 sequence that offers little to go on. He has been placed at this trip but the small sample makes any firm conclusions risky. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Roscommon, with Adrian Murray on 6% and Sean Flanagan on 9%. The 4-year-old has one run on good ground without placing and will need to improve markedly on what he has shown so far. His KTB Fit score of 49 keeps him in the conversation among the principals but he remains short of strong claims.
-
4Hill Of Berries48/100
Hill Of Berries is a debutant with no racecourse form to go on. The pedigree and sales background offer the only pointers, though the low data confidence means any read on ability remains tentative. Trainer J P Dempsey has a 7% strike rate from 57 runs at Roscommon while Jordan Gainford records an 11% strike rate from 37 rides here. Their combination shows a healthy 20% strike rate from 20 runs together with a positive A/E of 3.25. He lines up with a KTB Fit of 48 in a race where the lack of experience is a notable factor.
-
5Gratitudeforgrace48/100
Gratitudeforgrace has shown little in two starts to date, finishing well beaten on both occasions including when twelfth on his only visit to this track. He drops back in trip today having failed to make an impact over further last time. The yard has a solid 17% strike rate at Roscommon from a big sample but this remains very lightly raced territory with low confidence. Usually held up with medium confidence, he will be produced late by Danny Gilligan who sits on an 11% record at the course. His KTB Fit score of 48 matches the debutant but the bare form leaves him with plenty to find.
-
6Easy Listening47/100
Easy Listening is a debutant with no racecourse form to go on. The yard has a solid 9% strike rate at Roscommon from 55 runs while the jockey sits on a modest 6% from 53 rides here. First-time headgear is applied and the assessment rests entirely on pedigree and sales background given the low data confidence.
-
7God The Highness46/100
God The Highness arrives with a modest recent record and has failed to win or place in three runs on good ground. The step up in trip poses a fresh question having shown little at 1m7f on the only previous attempt. Trainer Jessica Harrington has a solid 13% strike rate here from a big sample while jockey Donagh Meyler sits on a 9% record from 67 rides at the track. Usually held up with high confidence.
-
8Lucky Signal46/100
Lucky Signal is a lightly raced 4-year-old with only three career runs and recent form of 8-S0 that offers little to go on. Gordon Elliott has a solid 17% strike rate from 299 runs at Roscommon while Sam Ewing is operating at a 5% strike rate from 42 rides here. Trip looks no better than fair as he has been beaten twice over this distance. Usually held up with limited evidence.
-
9Emmamia46/100
Emmamia has shown little in two starts so far and remains very lightly raced. The drop back in trip poses a fresh question while the small sample means both going and overall ability are hard to pin down. Trainer and jockey have modest records here with 7% and 9% strike rates respectively.
-
10The Flying Rambler42/100
The Flying Rambler has shown very little in three starts so far with a recent form line of 7-80. He drops back in trip to an untried 1m7f today which poses a fresh question. Both trainer and jockey have modest records at Roscommon.
-
11Pallatine Hills41/100
Pallatine Hills has some history from 15 starts but remains not fully exposed after a break. The step up to 1m7f is a fresh question having last run over 1m2f. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Roscommon. Usually held up with high confidence and has been competitive without winning on good ground.
-
12The Farmers Bar41/100
The Farmers Bar is a lightly raced 4-year-old with just one run to go on so any assessment is tentative. He finished a remote seventh on debut over 2m1f and now drops back in trip for a yard with a modest 3% strike rate from 31 runs at Roscommon. Jockey has a 4% record from 28 rides here and the going remains an unknown on such limited evidence. Usually held up with limited evidence.
-
13Neat As A Pin41/100
Neat As A Pin has shown little so far with an unseated and two distant finishes from three starts. He drops back in trip having already failed to make an impact at this distance last time. The yard posts a modest 10% strike-rate at Roscommon from a decent-sized sample while the 7 lb claimer has had too few rides here to judge. Typically settles in midfield.
-
14Abando39/100
Abando has some history from 11 starts but steps up markedly in trip today to a distance he has never tried. He has failed to win or place in four runs on good ground and his trainer holds a modest 3% strike rate at Roscommon from 30 runs. The 5 lb claimer has an 8% record here from 12 rides. Tends to make the running or race on the pace and is the sole front-runner in a race with a lone leader pace shape.
-
15Everin Dream38/100
Everin Dream is a newcomer with no racecourse form to go on. The pedigree and sales background offer the only clues here and the trainer's modest 2% strike-rate at Roscommon from 66 runs suggests limited encouragement from the yard. Jockey Peter Smithers is also 0-from-13 at the track.
KTB verdict
Direct Approach is the KTB Selection. He brings the highest Fit score of 53 into the race, has shown competitiveness on good ground, and benefits from first-time headgear along with the strong Roscommon records of both Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. His held-up style should see him delivered late against what is likely to be an uncontested lead. The main dangers are Sonas, who showed debut promise and now drops back in trip for a yard with a strong local record, and Telegram Sam, who has placed at the distance despite limited experience. The remainder of the field largely lack compelling form or course knowledge, making this a race where the top two on ratings hold the clearest claims.
KTB Selection Direct Approach
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:09 UTC, 28 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Sonas | 7/1 | Bet365 |
| Everin Dream | 40/1 | William Hill |
This is the narrative read of the 1:35 Roscommon. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Roscommon racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Roscommon 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 take the uncontested lead?
Abando, who tends to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence and is the only noted front-runner in a lone leader pace shape.
How many of the principals are usually held up?
Three of the top five principals — Direct Approach with high confidence, Gratitudeforgrace with medium confidence, and Sonas with limited evidence — are noted as usually held up.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Roscommon among those represented?
Gordon Elliott with a 17% strike rate from 299 runs at the track.
Which horse is stepping up markedly in trip having never tried this distance before?
Abando, who steps up markedly in trip today to a distance he has never tried.
How many runners in the full field are wearing first-time headgear?
Two runners — Direct Approach and Easy Listening — are fitted with first-time headgear.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies