2:35 Down Royal

The KTB Fit ranking

1. 1El Cairos KTB Selection66/100

   Form 154-71 · Gordon Elliott · Danny Gilligan

   El Cairos arrives as a high-class performer who is in solid form following a recent win. He has already won twice at this trip from six attempts and is placed once from three starts on yielding ground, where he remains competitive. Gordon Elliott’s 21% strike rate at Down Royal from 947 runs and Danny Gilligan’s 19% from 52 rides both sit above their respective figures at other tracks. The yard and jockey combination therefore holds the edge at this venue even though this is his first run here with no course record to go on. His prominent run-style should see him race handily in what is set to be a genuinely-run affair.

2. 2Blake64/100

   Form 252F2- · Noel Meade · Sam Ewing

   Blake is another high-class performer who has won both of his starts at this track, including a recent success over today’s trip. Rated 139 after a solid sequence of placed efforts on decent ground, he also boasts a win and two places from two runs on yielding. Noel Meade’s 16% strike rate at Down Royal from 853 runs and Sam Ewing’s 14% from 94 rides provide a respectable platform. His prominent racing style will see him handily placed from the outset in a race that is expected to be run at a proper gallop. The combination of course form and going versatility makes him a major player.

3. 3Mange Tout63/100

   Form 11131- · Gordon Elliott · Jack Kennedy

   Family: half-sister to Impaire Et Passe, a Grade 1 winner (10 wins from 17 runs). The dam has had 1 other runner, a winner.

   Mange Tout is a high-class performer with an unbeaten record at this trip and a win on this going from limited starts. He has already won here from one run at Down Royal and is very well related, being a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Impaire Et Passe while the dam has had one other runner which was also a winner. Gordon Elliott’s 21% strike rate at the track from 947 runs is above his 15% elsewhere, and Jack Kennedy posts a strong 31% strike rate here from 175 rides, well above his 17% at other courses. His prominent run-style will see him race on or close to the lead in what is set to be a genuinely-run contest.

4. 4Gameball62/100

   Form 43-236 · Henry de Bromhead · Darragh O'Keeffe

   Family: half-brother to Marie's Rock, a Grade 1 winner (9 wins from 22 runs). The dam has had 3 other runners, 2 of them winners.

   Gameball is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form with figures of 43-236 and holds an official rating of 135. He steps up in trip today having already won at this distance from two attempts, while his half-brother Marie’s Rock was a Grade 1 winner and the dam has had three other runners, two of them winners. Henry de Bromhead operates at a 22% strike rate at Down Royal from 227 runs, above their 13% at other courses, and Darragh O’Keeffe rides at a 12% strike rate here from 111 rides, in line with his 10% elsewhere. His prominent style should keep him involved early, though he is only placed once from one run on yielding ground.

5. 5Generous Risk52/100

   Form 3612P- · Gordon Elliott · Josh Williamson

   Family: the dam has had 2 other runners, none of them a winner.

   Generous Risk is a high-class performer who has shown strong form in recent seasons with a win and placed efforts from just seven runs. He drops back in trip to 2m today which asks a fresh question while the dam has had two other runners, none of them a winner. The yard’s 21% strike rate at Down Royal from 947 runs is above their 15% at other tracks but the jockey’s 6% record from 18 rides here is more modest.

6. 6Heads Up51/100

   Form 1251P- · John McConnell · Danny Mullins

   Heads Up is a high-class performer with a solid recent record that includes two wins from his last four starts. He steps back up to a trip he has won over but is unproven on yielding ground and makes his first appearance at Down Royal. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 7% strike rate here which sits in line with their figures at other tracks.