2:47 Curragh
This 22-runner DNG Excellence Handicap over 1m1f at the Curragh on yielding ground is a typically competitive field for the class. The KTB numbers identify a clear top pick in Suir Monad on a Fit rating of 64, with the next five principals clustered between 53 and 55, underlining how tight the rest of the handicap looks on paper. Most of the field are modest performers with recent form that is patchy at best, and the majority are held-up types stepping up or down in trip with varying degrees of course and ground experience.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points to a lone leader with high confidence, suggesting one horse will get an uncontested lead that could prove difficult for the many closers to reel in. The run-style data shows the vast bulk of the field, including all five principals, are held-up runners who produce their effort late, meaning the race is likely to be run at a steady gallop early before a sprint for the line in the final two furlongs. The key question is whether any of the patient types can close the gap on a horse allowed its own way out front on this yielding surface.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Suir Monad KTB Selection64/100
Suir Monad arrives in solid form with figures of 43431 this year, marking him out as a fair and consistent performer. He steps up in trip having been placed without winning over this distance on two of his three attempts, and he has shown he is competitive on yielding ground from a single start. The 3-year-old is held up in his races and usually produces his effort late, which could be a factor given the shape of this contest. Trainer A Slattery has a 7% strike rate at the Curragh from 411 runs while the 5 lb claimer Sam Coen adds value with a 15% strike rate and an A/E of 1.72 from 39 rides at the track. Overall this looks a good opportunity for the selection.
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2Thru And Thru55/100
Thru And Thru is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of poor efforts. He has run just once at the Curragh and was well beaten, while three attempts on yielding ground have also produced no win or place. The 4-year-old is held up in his races and produces his effort late with high confidence, which may not play to his strengths if the leader is allowed an easy time. Trainer Rory Anthony Devine maintains a strong 33% strike rate at the Curragh from a smallish sample of nine runs, though the yard's overall record with the jockey is modest. He steps up in trip today as an unknown quantity.
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3Unterberg54/100
Unterberg is a modest performer who has won once at this trip but has been largely out of form this year with a string of poor efforts. He has never won or placed from four runs at the Curragh and the trainer is still without a winner from 15 attempts here. The 7-year-old is held up and produces his effort late with high confidence, fitting the profile of most of the field. He has been placed once from seven starts on yielding ground so the surface should be fine, and the 5 lb claimer Rory Mulligan has a solid 13% strike rate and A/E of 1.6 from 64 rides at the track.
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4Khormor Syd53/100
Khormor Syd is a modest performer with a solid recent record of 79-221 and a win at today's trip from three attempts. He has been competitive on yielding ground without winning and makes his first appearance at the Curragh today. Like most of his rivals he is held up in his races and produces his effort late with high confidence, which may leave him with plenty to do if the pace is steady. Trainer Gillian Scott has a 6% strike rate at the Curragh from 32 runs while jockey Donagh O'Connor operates at a modest level at the track.
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5Spectical53/100
Spectical is a modest performer who has failed to build on a fair debut effort last year. He has been well held in two starts this season and now steps up in trip for the first time. The 3-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late with medium confidence. Trainer Ciaran Murphy records a 6% strike rate at the Curragh from 53 runs while Seamie Heffernan has an 8% strike rate and A/E of 0.79 from a huge 2380 rides at the track. He remains unproven on yielding ground.
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6Marta's Prince51/100
Marta's Prince is a modest performer who has shown very little in five starts since his debut, finishing no closer than fifth on his most recent three outings. He steps up in trip for the first time today and tries first-time headgear, both of which pose fresh questions, while the trainer has a 7% strike rate from 46 runs at the Curragh.
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7No More Porter50/100
No More Porter is a modest performer with a modest strike rate overall and a poor recent run of form. He has won once in 22 starts at this track but the yard's own record here is weak at 5% from a huge sample, and he has failed to place in three runs on yielding ground while dropping back in trip.
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8Lady Arwen50/100
Lady Arwen is a modest performer who has shown some spark this year with two wins from her last six starts. She has been placed twice from eight runs at the Curragh without winning and steps up in trip today having already scored at this distance in the past, with a strong record on yielding ground.
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9Storzando50/100
Storzando is a modest performer who has shown only fair form at best across seven runs. He was well held on his only previous try here at the Curragh and steps up in trip today having failed to make the frame in two previous attempts at this distance.
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10Anvika49/100
Anvika is a modest performer who has been placed a few times without winning. She has run well enough on this track on occasions and has shown she can be competitive on yielding ground, though stepping up in trip for the first time today asks a fresh question.
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11Navajo Point48/100
Navajo Point is a modest performer who has been in and out this year with two wins from his last six starts. He has shown nothing at this track in three runs and is now dropped back in trip having won once at this distance, with first-time headgear tried.
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12Jp's Express48/100
Jp's Express is a modest performer who has won once at this trip but has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He drops back from 1m2½f today which could suit on the balance of his figures though he has failed to place in two runs on yielding ground.
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13Moyassr45/100
Moyassr is a modest performer who has been consistent in recent months without winning, finishing second three times from his last six starts. He has run twice at the Curragh without placing and is 0-4 on yielding ground, while the step up to 1m1f today asks a fresh question.
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14Mare Crisium45/100
Mare Crisium is a modest performer with a patchy record that includes a win on yielding ground from just two attempts. She drops back in trip today having looked stretched over 1m2f last time, though she has already tried this distance once without success and this is her first run at the Curragh.
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15Nibras Rainbow44/100
Nibras Rainbow is a modest performer who has been placed on three of his four runs at this track without winning. He steps up in trip today having already won at this distance in the past though his two runs on yielding ground have produced no placed efforts.
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16Tero d'Rosa44/100
Tero d'Rosa is a modest performer who has won once over today's trip from five attempts and showed his best effort when second on his most recent start. He makes his first appearance at the Curragh today and has only run once on yielding ground without placing, with first-time headgear now applied.
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17Metallic43/100
Metallic is a limited performer who has failed to trouble the judge in four starts and now steps up markedly in trip. The yard has a solid 12% strike rate at the Curragh from a huge sample of runners.
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18King Of Eze43/100
King Of Eze is a limited performer who has shown very little in four starts and finished well beaten on his only previous run here. Stepping up to 1m1f is a fresh question and the yard's modest 4% strike-rate at Curragh offers no encouragement.
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19Morse42/100
Morse is a modest performer who has struggled at this track, finishing no better than 12th in four runs. He drops back from 1m6f to 1m1f having failed to make an impact at the shorter distance before and the trainer has a 0% strike rate from 40 runs at Curragh.
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20Private Peaceful40/100
Private Peaceful is a modest performer who has shown ordinary form in three starts so far, finishing no closer than sixth. He steps up in trip for the first time today while wearing first-time headgear, both of which remain unanswered questions, and the trainer is 0-21 at the Curragh.
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21Chloe's Boy39/100
Chloe's Boy is a limited horse who has been in and out this season with a recent win at this trip sandwiched between some poor runs. He drops back from 1m2f having already shown he can win over today's distance, though the trainer's modest 3% strike-rate at Curragh from a big sample is a negative.
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22Tullyesker33/100
Tullyesker is a limited performer who has struggled in all seven starts and finished a remote 17th on his only previous visit to the Curragh. Dropping back to 1m1f after a poor effort over 1m2f last time raises another question, though he has tried the trip twice before without success.
KTB verdict
Suir Monad stands out as the KTB Selection on the strength of his consistent recent form and proven ability to handle the trip. He has been competitive on yielding ground and the combination of the 5 lb claimer and the yard's record at the track adds to his appeal in a race where most of his rivals are modest and out of form. The main dangers are likely to come from Khormor Syd, who brings solid recent form and a win at the trip, and Lady Arwen, who has shown spark this year and boasts a good record on the surface. The uncontested lead could make life tough for the many held-up runners if the pace is not strong enough.
KTB Selection Suir Monad
This is the narrative read of the 2:47 Curragh. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Curragh racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Curragh results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Curragh racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why is Suir Monad rated the top selection?
Suir Monad has been consistent this year with form figures of 43431, steps up in trip having been placed without winning over this distance on two of three attempts, and the 5 lb claimer adds value.
What does the pace shape suggest for the race?
A lone leader with high confidence is likely to get an uncontested lead that can be hard for closers to peg back, with the vast majority of the field being held-up types.
Which horses are stepping up in trip for the first time?
Thru And Thru, Marta's Prince, Anvika, Moyassr, Nibras Rainbow, Metallic, King Of Eze, Private Peaceful and Tullyesker are all stepping up in trip today.
Who has the strongest trainer record at the Curragh in this field?
Rory Anthony Devine has a 33% strike rate at the Curragh from nine runs, while Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a 12% strike rate from 1399 runs.
Which runners are making their first appearance at the Curragh?
Suir Monad, Khormor Syd, Spectical, Marta's Prince, Tero d'Rosa, Metallic, Private Peaceful and Chloe's Boy have no course form on record.
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