Artful Approach (IRE)
Artful Approach is a gelding who won one of 19 starts, the success coming in the Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap over 6f – 7f on soft ground in Jul 2024 off an official rating of 73. He has raced 13 times over 1m – 1m1f without winning. Typically held up, he finished third of 15 in the TOTE Handicap at Leopardstown in Aug 2025 off an official rating of 79. He has never won on good ground.
- 1–19Wins / Runs
- 5.3%Strike rate
- 8 (42.1%)Placed
- −11.00£1 level staken=19 at SP
- 0.50Fair A/E n=19 · 0.40 incl. margin
- 82Highest OR
- 43dAvg between runs
A/E compares actual wins with what starting prices implied. "Fair" strips the bookmaker margin from the expectation, so favourites and longshots are judged on the same footing — figures near 1.00 mean the market priced this horse about right.
KTB Speed and Rating
Best recent Speed 98
How fast the horse ran, as points against the day-corrected standard time for its course and distance: 100 is the median GB Class 4 handicap winner on that code; one point is 0.1% of the standard time. A, B or C is how much the day's card could tell us, not how good the run was. What this means →
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 27 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 9 | 105C | 87 | — |
| Soft | 5 | 87A | 84 | — |
| Good to Firm | 1 | — | — | — |
| Heavy | 1 | — | — | — |
| Good to Soft | 1 | — | — | — |
| Standard (AW) | 1 | — | — | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 27 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m – 1m1f | 12 | 99A | 86 | — |
| 6f – 7f | 4 | 105C | 78.5 | — |
| Under 6f | 2 | 78C | 64.5 | — |
Of 19 runs looked at, 1 has no figure: not enough races on the card to set the day (under 4) (1).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 18 figures from 19 runs · as at 3 Oct 2026 · a record, not a forecast
Both figures are KTB's own, computed from the archive; no vendor rating enters either. Every run's figure is on its form line below with its grade. Grades measure how much the archive could see, never the merit of the run.
Run style from 9 analysed runs since Aug 2024
- Held up 4 (44%) · 0 wins
- Mid-division 3 (33%) · 0 wins
- Prominent 2 (22%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Progeny in our archive have won 11.6% of 8,153 runs since Jan 2008 (747 horses).
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firm | 19 | 2 | 10.5% | −1.1 | — |
| Good to Firm | 1,457 | 179 | 12.3% | +0.7 | 0 from 1 |
| Good | 1,957 | 221 | 11.3% | −0.3 | 0 from 9 |
| Good to Soft | 754 | 84 | 11.1% | −0.5 | 0 from 1 |
| Soft | 924 | 97 | 10.5% | −1.1 | 1 from 5 |
| Heavy | 222 | 22 | 9.9% | −1.7 | 0 from 2 |
| Standard (AW) | 2,820 | 339 | 12% | +0.4 | 0 from 1 |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6f | 2,094 | 267 | 12.8% | +1.2 | 0 from 2 |
| 6f – 7f | 4,290 | 477 | 11.1% | −0.5 | 1 from 4 |
| 1m – 1m1f | 1,367 | 156 | 11.4% | −0.2 | 0 from 13 |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 365 | 43 | 11.8% | +0.2 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 30 | 1 | 3.3% | −8.3 | — |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 6 | 0 | 0% | −11.6 | — |
| Over 3m | 1 | 0 | 0% | −11.6 | — |
Flat and jumps together (all codes) · since Jan 2008 · as at 27 Oct 2026 · rows under 30 runs muted · win % is the measure, a record not a forecast
4 siblings in the archive, 3 winners — best of them Valadon (IRE) (4 wins).
The wins came over 1m–2m5½f; the highest grade won is Class 3 (Valadon (IRE)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valadon (IRE) | 13 | 4 | 2m½f–2m5½f | Class 3 |
| Venice Biennale (IRE) | 17 | 1 | 1m2f | — |
| Sidney Reilly (IRE) | 2 | 1 | 1m | — |
| Happy Tercentenary (IRE) | 1 | 0 | — | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 9 | 0 | 0% | −9.00 |
| Soft | 5 | 1 | 20% | +3.00 |
| Heavy | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Good to Firm | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Good to Soft | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Standard (AW) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leopardstown | 5 | 0 | 0% | −5.00 |
| Galway | 3 | 1 | 33% | +5.00 |
| Curragh | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Killarney | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Navan | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Limerick | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Fairyhouse | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Gowran Park | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Cork | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Dundalk (AW) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m – 1m1f | 13 | 0 | 0% | −13.00 |
| 6f – 7f | 4 | 1 | 25% | +4.00 |
| Under 6f | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Ryan | 7 | 1 | 14% | +1.00 |
| Jack Kearney | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Ronan Whelan | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Jamie Powell | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Ben Coen | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Robert Whearty | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Paddy Harnett | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 11 | 1 | 9% | −3.00 |
| Cheekpieces | 8 | 0 | 0% | −8.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0% | −7.00 |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 | 10% | −2.00 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
Splits include every sample, however small — muted rows are under 3 runs. A one-from-one record is a fact, not a trend: read the Runs column before the strike rate.
Form
| Date | Course | Race | Pos | Btn | Wgt | OR | Spd | KTB | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 · 7 runs | ||||||||||
| 21 Aug 25+12d | Leopardstown | TOTE Handicap Held up towards the back - nudged into contention entering the straight and up to 7th with a furlong left - finished strongly to snatch 3rd near the line | 3/15 | 1 | 9-10 | 79 | 89C | 91A | Jamie Powell | 7/1 |
| 09 Aug 25+9d | Curragh | Kwiff: Supercharged Betting Experience Handicap Slow to start - settled just behind the front group on the rail - pushed along in 6th with 2f left - unable to close final furlong | 5/8 | nk | 9-5 | 81 | 50A | 83A | Ben Coen | 5/1 |
| 31 Jul 25+21d | Galway | Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap Settled midpack - pushed along with two out but unable to close - well held at the finish | 13/18 | nk | 9-6 | 82 | 85C | 68C | Jack Kearney | 12/1 |
| 10 Jul 25+35d | Leopardstown | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nasrullah Handicap Settled around midfield early - up in 4th at halfway - asked for effort in the straight and slipped back to 8th with a furlong left - held no more late finishing 11th | 11/12 | 1 | 8-9 | 82 | 98A | 58A | Robert Whearty | 11/1 |
| 05 Jun 25+41d | Leopardstown | Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap (Div 2) Towards back early - made ground under a furlong and a half out and kept going late to snatch second - denied by a short margin at the line | 2/18 | ½ | 9-9 | 78 | 91C | 99A | Jack Kearney | 7/1 |
| 25 Apr 25+26d | Limerick | Great National South Court Hotel Handicap Sat close to the front early - 3rd at halfway - pushed along inside final furlong then slipped back to finish 6th | 6/16 | ½ | 8-13 | 80 | 66C | 77A | Jack Kearney | 4/1 |
| 30 Mar 25+219d | Leopardstown | Legacy Wine Bar Handicap Held a midfield spot early - urged for effort in 8th with 2f left - up to 6th approaching final furlong - surged to 3rd inside it and stayed on to snatch 2nd close home | 2/17 | ¾ | 9-8 | 79 | 83C | 88A | Jack Kearney | 11/2 |
| 2024 · 10 runs | ||||||||||
| 23 Aug 24+19d | Killarney | Tote.ie Rated Race Settled at the back early - pushed along to make progress wide 2f out - unable to threaten in 4th and stayed on same speed to finish 4th | 4/6 | 1¼ | 8-10 | 79 | 87A | 75B | James Ryan | 11/2 |
| 04 Aug 24+6d | Galway | Village Salthill Handicap (50-80) Held up towards the back of the pack - made progress wide out from halfway - driven into 2nd spot 2f out - asked for effort inside final furlong - stayed on but had nothing more in final 50 yards to finish 3rd | 3/12 | ½ | 9-11 | 80 | — | 96A | James Ryan | 15/2 |
| 29 Jul 24+19d | Galway | Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap (50-80) | 1/15 | 9-3 | 73 | 84C | 95A | James Ryan | 7/1 | |
| 10 Jul 24+24d | Fairyhouse | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden | 5/16 | ¾ | 9-8 | 73 | 73C | 80A | Ronan Whelan | 7/2 |
| 16 Jun 24+10d | Gowran Park | Ladies Day July 27th Apprentice Handicap | 4/8 | ½ | 9-11 | 73 | 99A | 85A | James Ryan | 8/1 |
| 06 Jun 24+16d | Leopardstown | Legacy Wine Bar Handicap (47-70) | 2/18 | nk | 9-8 | 69 | 87C | 85A | James Ryan | 8/1 |
| 21 May 24+14d | Cork | Blackwater Apprentice Handicap | 4/16 | 1¼ | 9-12 | 70 | 105C | 81A | James Ryan | 12/1 |
| 07 May 24+10d | Navan | Arkle Bar Handicap | 14/15 | 1 | 10-0 | 70 | 51C | 52A | Ronan Whelan | 5/2F |
| 27 Apr 24+106d | Navan | Kilberry Apprentice Handicap | 4/21 | 1¼ | 9-2 | 70 | 78C | 84A | Paddy Harnett | 14/1 |
| 12 Jan 24+153d | Dundalk (AW) | One Of The Only Dual Racetracks In Europe Maiden | 9/14 | ½ | 9-3 | — | 80B | 62A | James Ryan | 5/1 |
| 2023 · 2 runs | ||||||||||
| 12 Aug 23+26d | Curragh | Bord Na Mona Recycling Irish European Breeders Fund Maiden | 6/13 | ¾ | 9-7 | — | 54C | 72A | Ronan Whelan | 7/1 |
| 17 Jul 23 | Killarney | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden | 6/13 | hd | 9-7 | — | 55C | 73A | Ronan Whelan | 66/1 |
Quick answers
- How many races has Artful Approach won?
- Artful Approach (IRE) won 1 of 19 archived starts between 2023 and 2025, a strike rate of 5.3%. Placed 8 times in total (42.1% of starts).
- Who trained Artful Approach?
- Artful Approach (IRE) was trained by Stephen Thorne on the most recent run on record, at Leopardstown on 21 August 2025.
- Who is Artful Approach's sire?
- Artful Approach (IRE) is by Mehmas (IRE) out of Art Festival (GB), whose sire is New Approach.
- What going does Artful Approach prefer?
- Artful Approach (IRE) has the best record on soft going: 1 win from 5 starts (20%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Artful Approach's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 79, from the run on 21 August 2025. The highest on record is 82.
- What is Artful Approach's sire's record?
- Mehmas (IRE)'s progeny in our archive have won 11.6% of 8,153 runs since Jan 2008 (747 horses), Flat and jumps together.
- Who are Artful Approach's siblings?
- Out of Art Festival (GB), Artful Approach (IRE) has 4 other produce in our archive, 3 of them winners. Most wins: Valadon (IRE) (4). Highest grade won: Class 3 (Valadon (IRE)). The wins came over 1m–2m5½f. As at Oct 2026.