2:25 Curragh
The 2:25 at the Curragh is a 1m4f Bill Hanlon Memorial Fillies Maiden on yielding ground, featuring a field of seven three- and four-year-olds with relatively limited experience at this trip. KTB's Fit Scores point to a clear top weight in Together Now on 62, with the next three clustered around the mid-40s and the remainder some way behind. Most of the field arrive unproven on yielding ground, and the step up in distance for several runners adds an extra layer of uncertainty to what looks an open maiden.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as tentative with only thin evidence of a confirmed front-runner. Hey Stella has shown a tendency to make the running or race prominently, while Loosen And Limber is likely to be on or close to the pace from its low draw. The majority of the field, including the selection Together Now, Sounds Great, I Hope You Dance, Kashala and Senna's Girl, prefer to be held up and produce their effort late. The key question is whether the early pace will be strong enough to set up the race for the closers or if a steady gallop will allow the prominent runners to maintain their advantage.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Together Now KTB Selection62/100
Together Now arrives with a KTB Fit Score of 62 and is the clear selection. A fair performer, she has shown consistent placed form in three runs, most recently finishing second over 1m3f. She has been placed on both previous starts at the Curragh and now steps up in trip to 1m4f for the first time, which poses a fresh question. Aidan O'Brien has a 19% strike rate at the track from 4499 runs while Ryan Moore takes the ride; the trainer-jockey combination shows 680 wins from 2568 rides with an A/E of 0.91. She is held up in her races, usually producing her effort late, and remains unproven on yielding ground.
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2Loosen And Limber48/100
Loosen And Limber is rated with a KTB Fit Score of 48. She showed little on her sole start when finishing eighth over this trip, leaving both her ability and going preferences unknown from such a small sample. The filly is likely to race prominently from draw 2. Gavin Cromwell has an 8% strike rate at the Curragh from 270 runs while G F Carroll takes the mount; their combined record stands at 83 wins from 912 rides with an A/E of 0.78. She has no course form on record and remains unproven on yielding ground.
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3Sounds Great47/100
Sounds Great carries a KTB Fit Score of 47. A fair performer, she has shown consistent placed form at this level, finishing second and third in her last two starts. She steps up in trip today having never tried beyond 1m3f, which asks a fresh question. Mrs J Harrington has a 9% strike rate at the Curragh from 1458 runs while Shane Foley is aboard; their trainer-jockey record is 429 wins from 3474 rides with an A/E of 0.81. She is usually held up and produces her effort late and remains unproven on yielding ground.
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4Hey Stella47/100
Hey Stella also has a KTB Fit Score of 47. She has shown fair ability in three runs this year, finishing placed twice over this trip. The lightly-raced profile means the yielding ground remains an unknown. She tends to make the running or race on the pace. G M Lyons has a 9% strike rate at the Curragh from 1440 runs while Colin Keane takes the ride; their combined record is 699 wins from 3556 rides with an A/E of 0.92. She has no course form on record.
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5I Hope You Dance44/100
I Hope You Dance has a KTB Fit Score of 44. A fair performer who has been consistent without winning, she has finished placed on four of her last five starts at this trip. She has run just once here, finishing sixth, and the yard's poor 1% strike-rate from 139 runs at Curragh is a clear negative. Usually held up, she has shown no win or place from three runs on yielding ground.
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6Kashala44/100
Kashala has a KTB Fit Score of 44. Lightly raced with just one run to go on, that came over this trip here at the Curragh when finishing a modest fourth. The yard has a solid 11% strike rate at the track from 3641 runs. Usually held up, the small sample leaves both going and trip questions open.
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7Senna's Girl35/100
Senna's Girl has a KTB Fit Score of 35. A modest performer who has run six times at the Curragh without winning but has been placed once. She has shown some competitiveness on yielding ground and steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question. The trainer's modest 3% strike rate at the track adds a note of caution.
KTB verdict
Together Now stands out with the highest KTB Fit Score and the benefit of placed form at this track as well as consistent performances in her three starts to date. The step up to 1m4f is the main unknown, but the Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore combination brings significant support at this venue. She is likely to be held up and come from off the pace in a race where the early gallop is uncertain. The main dangers are Sounds Great and Hey Stella, both of whom have shown fair placed form at this level and bring strong jockey bookings, while Loosen And Limber cannot be entirely dismissed on the back of her prominent style despite a modest debut.
KTB Selection Together Now
This is the narrative read of the 2:25 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
Which horse is stepping up in trip for the first time and has been placed both times at the Curragh?
Together Now, who now tries 1m4f having finished third and second in two runs at this track.
What is the Curragh strike rate for Aidan O'Brien in this race?
19% strike rate from 4499 runs with an A/E of 0.91.
Which runner has shown placed form twice over this trip and tends to make the running?
Hey Stella, who has finished placed twice over 1m4f and races prominently.
Why is I Hope You Dance viewed as having a negative despite consistent placed form?
The yard has a poor 1% strike-rate from 139 runs at the Curragh.
How many times has Senna's Girl been placed at the Curragh?
Once, from six runs at the track without a win.
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