2:05 Down Royal

The KTB Fit ranking

1. 1Lieber Nicc KTB Selection73/100

   Form 253/1- · Henry de Bromhead · Mike O'Connor

   Lieber Nicc is a high-class performer who won here over this trip on his penultimate start and has placed on yielding ground. Henry de Bromhead's 22% strike rate at Down Royal is above his overall figure and Mike O'Connor also fares better at the track than elsewhere. Lightly raced for his ability with just 11 career runs, he arrives off the back of a break with recent form figures of 253/1-. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and should be suited by the muddling, tactical pace. His course win and placed form on the ground make him the one to beat.

2. 2Red Glory71/100

   Form 1-534P · Henry de Bromhead · Alan O'Sullivan(5)

   Red Glory is a high-class performer with a solid recent record that includes a win and three placed efforts from his last five starts. He steps up in trip today having won at this distance before although his most recent run came over much shorter. The yard has a 22% strike rate at Down Royal from 233 runs which is above their record elsewhere while the 5lb claimer has a 14% strike rate at the track from seven rides. Usually racing prominently, he should be on or close to the lead in a race lacking an obvious front-runner. His placed efforts on yielding ground add to his claims.

3. 3Lazare de Star68/100

   Form 21228- · Gordon Elliott · Eoghan Finegan(5)

   Family: the dam has had 1 other runner, not a winner.

   Lazare de Star is high-class on the figures and brings strong recent form including two wins from his five starts. The yard’s 21% strike rate at Down Royal from 955 runs sits above their 15% at other tracks while the 5% jockey record from 19 rides here is more modest. He drops back in trip to an untried 2m today and the small going sample leaves that side unknown. The dam has had one other runner, not a winner. Usually racing prominently, he will be handily placed in what is expected to be a tactical affair.

4. 4Radiator Springs67/100

   Form 3128-4 · Henry de Bromhead · Darragh O'Keeffe

   Family: full sister to A Different Kind (9 wins from 27 runs). The dam has had 3 other runners, 1 of them a winner.

   Radiator Springs is a high-class performer with a solid recent record including a win at this trip from his only attempt. He drops back from 2m2f today while his full sister has won nine times and the yard have a 22% strike rate at Down Royal from 233 runs which is above their 13% elsewhere. Jockey has a 13% strike rate here from 116 rides in line with his record at other tracks. Usually racing prominently, he will be on or close to the pace. He showed little from his one run on yielding ground.

5. 5Mino Des Mottes67/100

   Form -12235 · Gordon Elliott · Jack Kennedy

   Mino Des Mottes is a high-class performer with solid recent form including two seconds and a third from his last five starts. He has won at today's trip and has placed once from two runs on yielding ground. The trainer holds a 21% strike rate at Down Royal from 955 runs while the jockey is operating at 31% here from 178 rides. Usually racing prominently, he will be handily placed in a muddling race. Jack Kennedy's strong course record is a significant plus.

6. 6Combs65/100

   Form 69-104 · Gordon Elliott · Paddy Cleary(7)

   Combs is a smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track with a second here last season. He drops back to a trip at which he has been placed twice without winning and has solid placed form on yielding ground. Gordon Elliott's 21% strike rate at Down Royal is above his general mark while Paddy Cleary is 1-8 at the track.

7. 7Thornleigh Frank64/100

   Form 69-384 · Sean McParlan · Sean Flanagan

   Thornleigh Frank is a smart performer who arrives in decent nick judged on recent placed efforts at shorter trips. He drops back from 3m to 2m today which poses a fresh question having failed to place the only previous time he tried this distance. Trainer and jockey both hold 8-10% strike rates at Down Royal that sit in line with their figures elsewhere while the horse has no prior experience of this track or yielding ground.

8. 8Metamorpheus61/100

   Form -24227 · Andrew McNamara · Conor Stone-Walsh

   Metamorpheus is a smart performer with a solid recent record of placed efforts and an official rating of 107 that matches his ability. He steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning and has shown no win or place from two runs on yielding ground. The trainer and jockey both record strike rates at Down Royal that are in line with their figures at other courses.

9. 9Malbay Madness61/100

   Form -11819 · Dermot A McLoughlin · P J O'Hanlon

   Malbay Madness is a smart performer on his day with a solid recent record that includes two wins from his last five starts. He has been placed at today's trip without winning and holds a 1-3 record on yielding ground, though he was only fifth on his sole visit to Down Royal. The trainer's 11% strike rate at this track is above his general mark while the jockey's 6% is in line with his overall record.

10. 10Ben Hur60/100

    Form 215-2 · Noel Meade · Sam Ewing

    Ben Hur is a high-class performer who arrives in solid form with a recent second at this trip. He has already shown his ability around this track when finishing fourth here on his only previous visit and acts on yielding ground. The trainer's 16% strike rate at Down Royal is above his general mark while the jockey's 14% here sits in line with his wider record.

11. 11Hopeful Hero58/100

    Form 032415 · T Hogan · Mark Walsh

    Hopeful Hero is a smart performer who has placed on both previous visits to this track without winning. He drops back in trip today having won at this distance earlier in his career though he is unproven on yielding ground. Trainer and jockey both have established records here that sit in line with their overall figures.

12. 12Arch Empire57/100

    Form 97-689 · Gordon Elliott · Danny Gilligan

    Arch Empire is a smart performer who has run to a good level on several occasions but has been below form on his last three starts. He has course experience here but could only finish ninth on his sole visit, while he has been competitive on yielding ground without winning. Dropping back to a trip he has won over adds some interest though the recent form is a clear negative.

13. 13Hopes Are High56/100

    Form 312-36 · William Durkan · Patrick M O'Brien(5)

    Hopes Are High is a high-class performer who has finished third on both starts here including a recent run over this trip. He steps back up in distance having won at 2m on his only previous attempt at it though he showed little on his one run on yielding ground. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 7% strike rate at Down Royal which is in line with their figures elsewhere.

14. 14Wholelotofbusiness51/100

    Form 0-3883 · Eoin Christopher McCarthy · Daniel King

    Wholelotofbusiness is a high-class performer with solid placed form this year including a second here over hurdles. He has won on yielding ground and at today's trip though the recent form figures show he has been beaten a fair way on his last couple of starts. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 3-4% strike rate at Down Royal which sits in line with their records elsewhere.

15. 15Duke Of Leggagh48/100

    Form 11P/9- · Michael Mulvany · Ricky Doyle

    Duke Of Leggagh is a smart performer who arrives off a lengthy break having shown useful form in better company earlier in his career. He steps up markedly in trip today with no strong evidence he will stay, while the yard’s 6% strike rate at Down Royal is in line with their record elsewhere. Jockey has a 0% strike rate from 73 rides here which is below his rate at other tracks.

16. 16Lygon Lad47/100

    Form 7/5213 · Gordon Elliott · Josh Williamson(3)

    Lygon Lad is a smart performer on his best days with a solid recent sequence of 75213 that includes two placed efforts. He has run twice at Down Royal without placing and is 0-3 on yielding ground so far. The trainer records a 21% strike rate here which is above his overall figure while the 3lb claimer has managed only 1 win from 18 rides at the track.

17. 17Barrys Spirit43/100

    Form 9415-0 · Adrian Murray · Conor Smithers(7)

    Family: half-brother to My Mate Mozzie, a Grade 3 winner (5 wins from 29 runs). The dam has had 5 other runners, 4 of them winners.

    Barrys Spirit is a smart performer who showed useful form when winning a handicap at this track last season. He has a win on yielding ground from just two starts on it and is a half-brother to high-class chaser My Mate Mozzie. Trainer records a 4% strike rate at Down Royal from 45 runs while the jockey is still seeking a first course winner from 18 rides.

18. 18Stuntman Steve41/100

    Form -PU536 · Gavin Cromwell · Alix Balfe(7)

    Stuntman Steve is a high-class performer on his best days with a solid official rating of 120 and a career that includes placed efforts at today's trip. He drops back in distance after a recent string of modest efforts that included a pulled-up run, and he has failed to place in four starts on yielding ground. The trainer holds an 11% strike rate at Down Royal from 283 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while the jockey is 0-12 at the track.