4:42 Leopardstown
The Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap at Leopardstown brings together a competitive field of 17 for this 1m3f150y contest on good ground. With ratings clustered between 93 and 69, the race features several in-form handicappers, though the KTB Fit scores identify a clear top pair on 61, followed by a cluster in the high 50s and 50s. The KTB numbers highlight useful performers with proven ability at the trip or track, yet also flag several with modest trainer records at Leopardstown or wide draws that could prove costly given the pace setup.
How the race shapes up
A lone leader is expected to enjoy an uncontested advantage, with Game Point the most likely to take up the running from his favourable draw. The remainder of the field is dominated by hold-up types, meaning the race is likely to develop with a clear pace advantage to the leader and a significant task for those racing in rear. The key question is whether any horse can bridge the gap in the straight on a track where uncontested front-runners often prove hard to peg back.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Sky Captain KTB Selection61/100
Sky Captain arrives as a useful performer with a consistent record this year shown by his form figures of 2-2266. He drops back from 2m1f to a trip he has already won over from just one attempt, which is viewed as a positive. The Joseph Patrick O'Brien yard posts a 12% strike rate at Leopardstown from 1095 runs with an A/E of 0.88, while Dylan Browne McMonagle operates at 13% from 294 rides with an A/E of 0.9. He has been placed twice from three starts on good ground without winning and settles typically in midfield. His overall profile suggests he is well equipped to handle the race shape.
-
2Handani61/100
Handani is a useful performer who has improved with every run and arrives on the back of two wins from his form of 2-2311. His Leopardstown second on debut reads well and he has already shown he handles this trip and ground, with one win and three placed efforts from three starts on good. The D K Weld yard has a 17% strike rate at Leopardstown from 3175 runs with an A/E of 0.92, though Chris Hayes is on 8% from 1226 rides with an A/E of 0.78. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is drawn wide in stall 16 but brings strong recent momentum.
-
3Pillar Of Hope59/100
Pillar Of Hope is a fair sort who has won at this trip and at Leopardstown itself from one win in four starts at the track. He arrives in solid form after two recent wins from his figures of 464811 and his jockey Patrick McGettigan continues in good form at the track with a 15% strike rate from 33 rides and an A/E of 1.43. The trainer's record here is modest at 6% from 17 runs with an A/E of 0.71 and the wide draw in stall 11 is far from ideal. Usually held up, he has one win and one placed effort from ten starts on good ground.
-
4Truth Be Told57/100
Truth Be Told is a useful performer who has already won over this track from one win in two starts at Leopardstown. His recent form has been mixed, landing a handicap at Navan in May before two lesser efforts from figures of 41-126. He drops back in trip today having last run over 1m5f and that distance change is an unknown. Usually held up, the M C Grassick yard is on 6% at the track from 80 runs with an A/E of 0.91 while W J Lee operates at 8% from 866 rides with an A/E of 0.79. He has one win and one placed from six starts on good ground.
-
5Game Point55/100
Game Point is a fair performer who has shown his best form at this track with a second and a fourth from two runs here. He has two wins from nine starts on good ground and drops back in trip today from 2m to a distance he has never tried. The R P Cody yard has a 10% strike rate at Leopardstown from 20 runs with an A/E of 1.28, while Nathan Crosse is operating at 5% from 172 rides with an A/E of 0.74. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is the one most likely to take advantage of the lone-leader pace shape from his draw in stall 3.
-
6Immutable54/100
Immutable is a fair sort who has won over this trip and looks well suited by dropping back from 2m1f. He has already won at Leopardstown from two runs here and posted a solid second on his penultimate start from figures of -92210. The Joseph G Murphy yard has a modest 6% strike rate at the track from 248 runs with an A/E of 0.68 while Seamie Heffernan operates at 10% from 1525 rides with an A/E of 0.75. Usually held up, he has one win from one start on good ground.
-
7Latin America54/100
Latin America is a useful performer who has shown steady progress in four starts this year, winning a maiden and finishing a solid third in a handicap last time from figures of 2135. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question while first-time headgear is also an unknown. The J P Murtagh yard has a 9% strike rate at Leopardstown from 458 runs with an A/E of 0.73 and Ben Coen records 7% from 401 rides with an A/E of 0.69. Usually held up, he has no placed effort from one run on good ground.
-
8Teoest54/100
Teoest is a fair performer who has shown steady progress and finished second last time out over 1m2.5f from figures of 46421. He steps up in trip today which is an unknown, though he has placed once in four runs at this distance. The J S Bolger yard has a solid 14% strike rate at Leopardstown from 3188 runs with an A/E of 0.94 while Luke McAteer records 10% from 178 rides with an A/E of 1.1. Usually held up, he has no runs on good ground and is therefore unproven on the surface.
-
9Too Bossy For Us53/100
Too Bossy For Us is a fair performer who has placed twice from two runs at Leopardstown without winning. He has dropped back in trip today having last run over 2m1f and is placed at this distance from one attempt. The W P Mullins yard has a 17% strike rate at Leopardstown from 2151 runs with an A/E of 0.86 while W M Lordan operates at 9% from 1270 rides with an A/E of 0.76. Usually held up, he has one win and four placed efforts from seven starts on good ground.
-
10Sir Jeremy51/100
Sir Jeremy is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning for some time, placing in three of his last five starts from figures of 951533. He has run twice at Leopardstown without placing and drops back from 2m to a trip he has won over from two attempts. The Noel Meade yard has a 10% strike rate here from 1712 runs with an A/E of 0.8 while the 5lb claimer Reese Holohan has a 12% record from 17 rides with an A/E of 1.51. Usually held up, he has one win and two placed from nine starts on good ground.
-
11Arch Enemy50/100
Arch Enemy is a fair sort who has won once from nine starts at Leopardstown and boasts solid recent form including two victories in his last six outings from figures of 105411. He drops back in trip today having last run over a mile and a half yet has two wins from seven starts at this distance. The Patrick Magee yard has a modest 4% strike rate from 27 runs at the track with an A/E of 0.51 while the jockey has a 10% record from ten rides with an A/E of 1.04. Usually held up, he has three wins and seven placed from 16 starts on good ground.
-
12Kimy48/100
Kimy is a modest performer who has placed without winning at this trip and showed his best effort here when runner-up over 1m4f last year. He has a mixed record on good ground with one win from nine starts and is coming back from a lengthy break after his last run over 2m4f from figures of 072960. The Thomas Mullins yard records a solid 8% strike-rate at Leopardstown from 446 runs with an A/E of 0.98. Usually held up, he has placed once from six runs at the track without winning.
-
13Speckled Meadow47/100
Speckled Meadow is a modest performer who has won once from nine starts at this track and steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance. He has a solid recent record here but is 0-9 on good ground and showed only modest form on his last two starts from figures of 656962. The Don Browne yard and Rory Mulligan both have respectable strike rates at Leopardstown. Usually held up, he has won once from nine starts at the course.
-
14Night Moon47/100
Night Moon is a fair performer with a solid overall profile and proven ability at this trip, where he has won once from three starts. He drops back from 1m5f today having shown his best form over shorter distances in the past from figures of 31/130. On the downside he was well beaten on his only previous run at Leopardstown and the wide draw in stall 15 is far from ideal. The W P Mullins yard has a 17% strike rate here while Colin Keane operates at 14%.
-
15Thatwilldoso47/100
Thatwilldoso is a fair performer who has been in decent form this year with two wins from his last six starts from figures of 051212. He has won at today's trip but his three runs at Leopardstown have produced no better than fifth and the trainer's modest 5% strike-rate here adds little confidence. The Kevin Thomas Coleman yard is on 5% at the track from 55 runs with an A/E of 0.8 while R P Cleary has a 6% strike rate from 676 rides with an A/E of 0.85. Usually held up, he has one win and two placed from six starts on good ground.
-
16Youcansaythatagain44/100
Youcansaythatagain is a fair performer who won a modest maiden on good ground over this trip on his second start. He has failed to build on that in three subsequent runs, including when well held in a handicap last time after shaping as if the 1m5f trip was too far from figures of 71596. The A Oliver yard and Andrew Slattery both have modest strike rates at Leopardstown. Usually held up, he has one win and one placed from two starts on good ground.
-
17Leopold The First43/100
Leopold The First is a fair performer who has been consistent this year with placed efforts on his last four starts from figures of 2-2263. He steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question while his record on good ground is modest from just two starts. The Andrew Lee yard has yet to strike at Leopardstown from 24 attempts and Robbie Colgan operates at a 4% strike rate here from 426 rides with an A/E of 0.64. Usually held up and drawn in stall 1.
KTB verdict
Sky Captain is the KTB Selection. A useful performer with consistent form at a decent level this season, he drops to a trip he has already won over and benefits from a yard and jockey with respectable records at Leopardstown. The pace shape, with its lone leader likely to get an easy time up front, should suit his midfield run-style as he looks to close effectively. His main dangers are Handani, who brings progressive form and two recent wins, and Pillar Of Hope, who has won at the track and trip but faces a wide draw. Truth Be Told and Game Point complete the main clutch of principals who can feature.
KTB Selection Sky Captain
This is the narrative read of the 4:42 Leopardstown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Leopardstown racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Leopardstown results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Leopardstown racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is most likely to take the uncontested lead?
Game Point tends to make the running or race on the pace and is drawn in stall 3.
How many runners are held up in running?
The majority of the field are held up, with only Game Point noted as a front-runner and Sky Captain typically settling in midfield.
Which horse has the strongest trainer record at Leopardstown?
W P Mullins has a 17% strike rate at Leopardstown from 2151 runs with an A/E of 0.86 for both Too Bossy For Us and Night Moon.
Which principal has course-and-distance winning form?
Pillar Of Hope has won at this trip and at Leopardstown itself.
What are the main negatives for the top two in the market according to KTB?
Handani is drawn wide in stall 16 while Sky Captain has no course form on record.
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