1:16 Thurles
This Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over 1m69y at Thurles on good ground features a field of ten juveniles where experience is thin on the ground. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Eagles Voice on 62, with four other principals between 49 and 56, underlining that this is an open-looking heat reliant on trainer form, jockey bookings and limited racecourse evidence. With the pace shape indicating no obvious leader, the race is set to be a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
Given that the pace shape lacks a leader, the race is expected to unfold at a steady gallop with no one keen to take the field along early. Several runners, including the selection Eagles Voice, Silver Kiss, Ophelia, Chattering Classes and Beach, are noted as usually held up and producing their effort late, which may leave them with plenty to do if the tempo remains modest. The key question is whether those who can race more prominently or those with the tactical speed to get handy will be best placed to capitalise in what looks a race that could be won or lost from mid-division or better.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Eagles Voice KTB Selection62/100
Eagles Voice has only one run on the board and showed nothing of note over this trip last time out. The yard has sent just a single runner to Thurles so far, making any read on their local form impossible, while jockey Nathan Crosse has a modest 9% strike rate from his 11 rides here. With such a small base of evidence all round this lightly-raced colt has to be treated with real caution. The trainer does though boast a 100% strike rate at Thurles from that one run with an A/E of 4.2. Run-style is held up, usually producing its effort late on the limited evidence available.
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2Light Of Saxony56/100
Light Of Saxony is a newcomer from a yard that has a solid 20% strike rate at Thurles from 158 runs. The Joseph Patrick O'Brien stable sends out plenty of well-bred juveniles here and the jockey has an above-average A/E of 1.86 from his small sample of 17 rides at the track. With no racecourse form and low data confidence the assessment rests entirely on pedigree and sales background. The sire Saxon Warrior has a 12% overall win rate from 3016 runners. Trainer and jockey combined record stands at 46 wins from 264 rides for an A/E of 1.05.
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3Lori Darlin52/100
Lori Darlin is a newcomer from the Noel Meade yard which has a solid 17% strike rate from 445 runs at Thurles. The booking of Adam Caffrey is a notable positive given his 43% strike rate from seven rides at the track. With no racecourse form and low data confidence the assessment rests entirely on pedigree and sales background. The sire Elzaam has a 9% overall win rate from 4845 runners. Trainer and jockey combined record stands at 6 wins from 84 rides for an A/E of 0.89.
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4Kathy M51/100
Kathy M is a newcomer from a yard that operates at a solid 20% strike rate at Thurles. The Joseph Patrick O'Brien stable and Declan McDonogh combination is respected here though both records are modest in raw terms. With no racecourse form and low data confidence the rest rests on pedigree and sales background that has not been supplied. The sire Justify has a 13% overall win rate from 1126 runners. Trainer and jockey combined record stands at 176 wins from 1607 rides for an A/E of 0.73.
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5Silver Kiss49/100
Silver Kiss has shown consistent form, finishing in the first three on all four starts including a placed effort over this trip. The useful 2-year-old brings solid ratings and race experience to the table yet carries the query of whether trainer D K Weld can overcome a modest 17% strike rate at Thurles from 112 runs. Jockey Chris Hayes has a 5% strike rate from 39 rides here which adds another layer of caution. The filly has placed on all three starts on good ground without winning. Run-style is held up, usually producing its effort late.
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6Ophelia47/100
Ophelia has only one run in the book so the form is impossible to weigh up with any confidence. The yard posts a 15% strike-rate at Thurles from a big sample while Ben Coen has a solid 13% record here from his 16 rides. Stepping up from 6f to an untested 1m poses a fresh question at this early stage of her career. Run-style is held up, usually producing its effort late on the limited evidence available.
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7Chattering Classes44/100
Showed fair pace when fourth on debut over 7f. Steps up to 1m today which asks a fresh question. Trainer and jockey both have established records at Thurles but this remains a low-confidence call given the small sample. Run-style is held up, usually producing its effort late on the limited evidence available.
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8Suspect One41/100
Suspect One is a debutant so the only pointers come from his pedigree and sales background. The yard has a modest 8% strike-rate at Thurles from a decent-sized sample. Wesley Joyce has had too few rides at the track to form any reliable view.
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9Beach41/100
Lightly raced and only two starts to go on so far. Finished eighth then ninth and has been asked a fresh question now stepped up to this trip. Trainer has a solid 15% strike-rate at Thurles from a big sample while the 5 lb claiming jockey has had too few rides here to judge. Run-style is held up, usually producing its effort late on the limited evidence available.
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10Abiding39/100
Abiding is a first-time runner from the powerful Aidan O'Brien stable. The jockey has a 0% strike rate from nine rides at Thurles so the trainer's record here is too limited to draw any firm conclusions either way. With low data confidence everything else rests on the pedigree and sales background which is not supplied here.
KTB verdict
Eagles Voice is the KTB Selection in a race where the lack of established form makes for a difficult puzzle. The selection's yard has a perfect record at Thurles from its one runner sent so far and, while the overall evidence is slight, it tops the KTB Fit Scores and is taken to come out on top in what should be a steadily-run contest. Main dangers are the Joseph Patrick O'Brien pair Light Of Saxony and Kathy M along with the experienced Silver Kiss, who brings the highest official rating and consistent placed form but must overcome modest course records for trainer and jockey.
KTB Selection Eagles Voice
This is the narrative read of the 1:16 Thurles. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Thurles racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Thurles results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest official rating in the field?
Silver Kiss has an official rating of 93.
How many starts has Eagles Voice had?
Eagles Voice has had only one run.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Thurles among those riding in this race?
Adam Caffrey has a 43% strike rate at Thurles from seven rides.
What is the trainer strike rate at Thurles for the yard of the selection Eagles Voice?
The trainer has a 100% strike rate at Thurles with an A/E of 4.2 from one run.
Which runners are likely to be held up in this steadily-run race?
Eagles Voice, Silver Kiss, Ophelia, Chattering Classes and Beach are all noted as usually held up.
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