4:20 Down Royal
A 16-runner bumper at Down Royal over 2m0f190y on yielding ground looks a typically tricky affair for this time of year, with a muddling pace expected to suit those who can be ridden handily. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Cantgetaway on 67, with several others in the mid-50s, underlining the open nature of the race and the value of the pedigree and yard form lines on offer. Most of the field arrive without any experience on yielding ground, adding another layer of uncertainty to proceedings.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner in a muddling, tactical pace shape, the race is likely to be run at a steady gallop early on, suiting those who can settle close to the pace or in midfield. Prominent runners such as Moot Hall and Mega Shoc may try to grab a share of the lead, while the majority are held up or mid-division types who will be looking to produce their efforts late. The key question is which horse can best handle the tactical positioning and the yielding surface, as several hold strong pedigrees but unproven on the ground.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Cantgetaway KTB Selection67/100
Cantgetaway tops the KTB Fit ratings on 67 and is the selection in a race where pedigree carries plenty of weight. A 4-year-old half-sister to Passengerontheship, who landed six wins from 21 runs, she comes from a dam that has produced five other runners, all of them winners. Sean McParlan's 8% strike rate at Down Royal from 59 runs is in line with his record elsewhere, while Caragh Monaghan has a 12% strike rate at the track from 17 rides. She is unproven on yielding ground and has no course form, but her run-style of settling in midfield should be well suited to the expected tactical pace. Limited evidence exists on her settling pattern, yet she shapes as the one to beat on what the numbers say.
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2Back In Favour60/100
Back In Favour comes in with a KTB Fit of 60 and a recent form line of 1-8330 that shows a previous bumper success. A 5-year-old half-sister to Win Some Lose Some, who recorded four wins from 16 runs, she hails from a dam that has had two other runners, one of them a winner. A. McCann and Miss A B O'Connor combine with a 12% strike rate from 101 runs together. The yard's 6% strike rate at Down Royal from 64 runs matches their record at other tracks, while the jockey is 13% from eight rides here. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she is unproven on yielding ground with no course form recorded, but her proven ability gives her a solid place in the reckoning.
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3Some See Stars57/100
Some See Stars is rated 57 on KTB Fit and brings the benefit of placed form on yielding ground. A 6-year-old half-brother to Benefit, a Listed winner with three wins from eight runs, he comes from a dam that has produced four other runners, three of them winners. Recent form of 267-P3 includes a third on his latest start. A L T Moore's 11% strike rate at Down Royal from 288 runs is respectable, though the trainer-jockey partnership stands at 0% from six runs. Usually held up with a medium-confidence read on that pattern, he has been competitive without winning on yielding and has no course form, yet his experience on the ground could prove useful in a tactical affair.
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4The Last Line56/100
The Last Line is next on 56 and steps out in first-time headgear as a 6-year-old with limited racecourse exposure. A half-brother to Toe The Line, a Listed winner with seven wins from 32 runs, he is out of a dam that has had seven other runners, three of them winners. Recent form reads 2/0. The John E & Thomas Kiely yard is 0% at Down Royal from four runs, and the jockey has no record at the track. Typically settling in midfield on limited evidence, he is unproven on yielding ground with no course form. The headgear is an interesting addition in a race where his pedigree suggests he could have more to offer.
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5Moot Hall55/100
Moot Hall sits on a KTB Fit of 55 and has shown little in two starts to date as a 5-year-old. The dam has had two other runners, none of them a winner, which is a limited family record. He steps up in trip again today. Eoin Griffin's 13% strike rate at Down Royal from 30 runs is in line with their record elsewhere, while the jockey has no recorded rides at the track. Usually racing prominently and handily with medium confidence, he is unproven on yielding ground and has no course form. The yard's local record offers some encouragement in what remains an uphill task on what he has shown so far.
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6Staton54/100
Staton has a KTB Fit of 54 and has shown very little in two starts this year with recent form of 534-00. A 5-year-old who drops back in trip, the dam has had one other runner that did not win. Paul Traynor's 6% strike rate at Down Royal from 53 runs is in line with his record elsewhere, while Anna McGuinness is 4% from 24 rides here. Usually held up, he is unproven on yielding ground with no course form and remains lightly raced with low data confidence.
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7Bravemans Call54/100
Bravemans Call is rated 54 on KTB Fit as a 4-year-old with recent form of 32. The trainer-jockey combination is 0% from five runs. Usually settling in midfield with medium confidence, he is unproven on yielding ground with no course form recorded.
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8Malpaso51/100
Malpaso is a debutant rated 51 on KTB Fit. Dermot A McLoughlin's 11% strike rate at Down Royal from 174 runs is above his overall figure, while Finian Maguire is 14% from 37 rides here. By Blue Bresil, he has no course win on record and very low confidence on all known pointers.
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9Uncle Pad47/100
Uncle Pad arrives with a KTB Fit of 47 and recent form of 1-, showing a previous win. A 5-year-old half-brother to Hello Sweetie, who landed five wins from 34 runs, he is from a dam that has had seven other runners, four of them winners. Gordon Elliott posts a 21% strike rate at Down Royal from 955 runs, and Mr H C Swan is 19% from 32 rides here. By Vadamos, he has no course win on record.
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10Mega Shoc46/100
Mega Shoc is rated 46 on KTB Fit and showed little in a single bumper start over 2m4f. A 5-year-old who drops back in trip today, Rory Anthony Devine's two runs at Down Royal and the jockey's 0-8 record at the track mean the form must be treated with caution. Usually racing prominently on limited evidence, he is unproven on yielding ground with no course form.
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11Cant Stopthe Clock43/100
Cant Stopthe Clock has a KTB Fit of 43 as a 5-year-old. A half-sister to Sineads Fancy, who won once from 22 runs, she is from a dam that has had one other runner that was a winner. She goes in first-time headgear. Edward F Power is 0% at Down Royal from three runs, while the jockey has no record at the track. By Valirann, she has no course win on record.
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12Highland Trail41/100
Highland Trail is rated 41 on KTB Fit as a 5-year-old. A half-brother to Quiet Assassin, who won once from seven runs, he is from a dam that has had two other runners, one a winner. Paul Stafford's 5% strike rate at Down Royal from 39 runs sees the jockey on 0% from two rides here. By Highland Reel, he has no course win on record.
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13Chaparro40/100
Chaparro has a KTB Fit of 40 as a 4-year-old. Conor David Maxwell is 0% at Down Royal from 13 runs, while Mr J L Gleeson posts an 18% strike rate from 17 rides here. By Maxios, he has no course win on record.
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14Riversdale37/100
Riversdale is rated 37 on KTB Fit as a 4-year-old. A half-brother to Honey Jack, who won once from eight runs, he is from a dam that has had two other runners, one a winner. A. Slattery's 5% strike rate at Down Royal from 62 runs sees the jockey on 0% from 14 rides here. By Poet's Word, he has no course win on record.
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15Rarely Miss Taken36/100
Rarely Miss Taken has a KTB Fit of 36 as a 5-year-old. A half-sister to Bobby's Nelson, who won once from five runs, she is from a dam that has had two other runners, both winners. Usually held up on limited evidence, W R Crawford is 8% at Down Royal from 12 runs and Mr D G Lavery is 9% from 94 rides here. She is unproven on yielding ground with no course form.
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16Cave Daisy33/100
Cave Daisy is bottom of the KTB Fit ratings on 33 and showed little on her sole start when eighth over slightly further here. A 5-year-old, Noel C. Kelly's 3% strike rate at Down Royal from 183 runs is below their record at other tracks, while the jockey is still seeking a first winner from six rides at the track. Usually held up on limited evidence, she is unproven on yielding ground and this is very early days.
KTB verdict
Cantgetaway is the KTB Selection and tops the Fit ratings on 67 in a race where her pedigree stands out strongly. Half-sister to a multiple winner and from a dam that has produced five winners from five other runners, she has the right run-style for a muddling, tactical affair and the trainer-jockey combination offers respectable figures at the track. The case for her rests on those family strengths and the way the race is likely to be run. Main dangers are Back In Favour, who has already shown winning form, and Some See Stars, who has proven competitive on yielding ground. The Last Line in first-time headgear and Moot Hall from a yard with a solid local record cannot be entirely dismissed either.
KTB Selection Cantgetaway
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:03am, 31 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Cantgetaway | 100/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Back In Favour | 25/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Some See Stars | 20/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| The Last Line | 28/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Moot Hall | 50/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Staton | 150/1 | Betfred, 12:03am |
| Bravemans Call | 3/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Malpaso | 16/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Uncle Pad | 4/5 | Betfred, 12:03am |
| Mega Shoc | 100/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Cant Stopthe Clock | 50/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Highland Trail | 100/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Chaparro | 14/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Riversdale | 7/2 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Rarely Miss Taken | 66/1 | William Hill, 12:03am |
| Cave Daisy | 150/1 | Betfred, 12:03am |
This is the narrative read of the 4:20 Down Royal. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Down Royal racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Down Royal results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Down Royal racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest family record according to KTB's archive?
Cantgetaway, half-sister to Passengerontheship who won six from 21, from a dam that has had five other runners all of them winners.
How does the expected pace shape influence the race?
The muddling and tactical pace with no obvious front-runner should suit those ridden close to the pace or in midfield, as most of the field settle held up or in mid-division.
Which runners are proven on yielding ground?
Some See Stars is the only one with placed form on yielding, having been competitive without winning from one run on the surface.
What is the best trainer strike rate at Down Royal in the field?
Gordon Elliott has a 21% strike rate at Down Royal from 955 runs, the highest in the field.
Which horses are making their debut or have very limited experience?
Malpaso is a debutant, while Cantgetaway, Bravemans Call, The Last Line and several others have limited racecourse evidence with no runs on yielding ground.
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