1:37 Curragh
This 0-100 handicap over six furlongs at the Curragh on yielding ground brings together a competitive field of 13 where the KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top. Moltophino heads the figures on 63 with Staysound Susie, Unauthorized, Keke and Unique Journey all within eight points, suggesting a race that could be decided by how the uncontested lead is utilised and which closers can make ground in the straight. Several runners have strong course form and previous success at the trip, while the pace shape points to an advantage for the one horse able to dictate matters from the front.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as a lone leader with high confidence, meaning Chicago Pope is likely to bowl along in front with little pressure and an uncontested lead. Most of the field, including the top five in the KTB Fit order, are held-up types who will be asked to come from off the pace and close the gap in the final furlong. The key question is whether the leader can maintain the advantage on yielding ground or if one of the patient runners, well positioned to strike late, can reel him in.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Moltophino KTB Selection63/100
Moltophino is a fair performer who has won over this trip in the past and showed his best form when winning here over 5f last season. He has placed twice from five runs on yielding ground and steps back up to 6f having last run over the minimum. The trainer holds an 11% strike-rate from 36 runs at the Curragh with a strong A/E of 1.61. Chris Hayes takes the ride on a horse that is usually held up and produces its effort late. With an official rating of 84 and recent form figures of 799213 he enters the race in reasonable order and is the KTB Selection.
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2Staysound Susie61/100
Staysound Susie is a useful performer who has won twice at this trip and twice at the Curragh from 11 visits. She has been competitive on yielding ground without winning and her recent form of 160754 shows she can still produce a big run on her best days. The trainer's modest 7% strike rate at the track is offset by a respectable A/E of 0.96 while the 7 lb claimer helps. Usually held up and producing her effort late, she carries an OR of 92 from draw 11. Her course record and ability to handle the conditions make her a serious player.
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3Unauthorized59/100
Unauthorized is a fair sort who has run five times at the Curragh without winning but has been placed once. He steps up from 5f to a trip he has won at before and showed he handles yielding ground when placed on his only try. First-time headgear is now applied. Settling typically in midfield, the three-year-old arrives off an OR of 87 with form figures of 718270. The combination of the step back up in trip, the headgear and his placed effort on yielding ground gives him a solid chance in a race where closers may be favoured.
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4Keke55/100
Keke is a useful performer with solid course connections, having won three times from 16 starts at the Curragh. He has been consistent enough this year but his recent form has been patchy and he has never placed in three runs on yielding ground. The step back up to 6f is a positive as he has won twice at the trip. Usually held up, he is ridden by Shane Foley from a handy draw of two. His official rating is 93 and recent form reads 444093, leaving him with questions to answer on the ground despite the course record.
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5Unique Journey55/100
Unique Journey is a useful performer who has won twice over this course and also has a solid record at today's trip with three wins from eleven starts. Dropping back from 7f looks a sensible move and the yielding ground is fine given one win and two places from five runs on it. Trainer's modest 7% strike rate at Curragh from 73 runs is a slight negative. Usually held up, the four-year-old is drawn in stall one with an OR of 94 and form figures of 240278. His course-and-distance record adds appeal in a race where late efforts could be well suited by the shape.
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6Amiata55/100
Amiata is a fair 3-year-old with a solid record at this trip, including two wins from seven starts. She has already won over course and distance on yielding ground and arrives in reasonable form having shown her best on her last two visits to the Curragh. The trainer's modest 9% strike-rate at the track from a large sample is a slight negative.
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7Chicago Pope54/100
Chicago Pope is a fair performer who has shown his best at this trip with two wins from six attempts and a solid placed effort on his latest visit to the Curragh. He has handled yielding ground well enough to win from three starts and brings strong recent form including a win and two places from his last four outings. The trainer's modest 10 percent strike rate at the track from a big sample is worth noting against the useful course placings. He is the only front-runner and will set the pace.
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8Nouvel Espoir53/100
Nouvel Espoir is a fair performer who has been in decent nick of late with a string of placed efforts. He has won over this trip and on this ground, and he also has a win to his name here from 13 starts at the track. The trainer's modest record at Curragh tempers enthusiasm.
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9The Highway Rat51/100
The Highway Rat is a fair performer who has run 14 times at the Curragh without winning and has been hit and miss this year. He steps up from 5f to 6f today having been placed at the trip in the past, and he has won on yielding ground. Trainer is operating at a 4% strike rate from 556 runs here while jockey records are not supplied.
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10Smoke Them Out50/100
Smoke Them Out is a fair sort who has won twice at this track from ten runs and also has three wins from thirteen starts at this trip. He has placed on yielding ground and arrives in reasonable form having won two of his last six outings. The trainer's modest 3% strike-rate at Curragh from a large sample is a clear negative.
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11Dmaniac49/100
Dmaniac is a fair performer who has won twice from ten runs at the Curragh. He drops back to 6f today having won at the trip before, though his two runs on yielding ground have produced no win or place. The trainer operates at an 8% strike rate here from 114 runs while the 3lb claimer has limited course experience.
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12Dark Ace47/100
Dark Ace is a fair performer who has placed once from five runs at the Curragh and holds solid course connections. He has won five times over this trip but steps up in distance today having last run over 5f, and his record on yielding ground is modest with no win or place from three starts. The trainer's 5% strike rate from 665 runs at this track adds a note of caution.
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13Go Athletico45/100
Go Athletico is a modest performer who has won twice at the Curragh from 18 starts and holds a solid 1-5 record on yielding ground. He has also won at this trip though his recent form of 256004 is uninspiring and he is now 8 years old. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate from 665 runs at the track adds a further negative.
KTB verdict
Moltophino is the KTB Selection. A fair performer with a win over this trip on his CV and a course success over the minimum trip last season, he is well suited by the step back up to 6f and has placed on yielding ground. His trainer's strong record at the Curragh adds further confidence. The main dangers are Staysound Susie, who boasts a fine course record and can still produce big runs, and Unauthorized, who steps up in trip with first-time headgear and has already shown he handles the ground. Unique Journey and Keke cannot be ruled out either given their course form and trip suitability, while the uncontested lead held by Chicago Pope could make him dangerous if the closers fail to get to him in time.
KTB Selection Moltophino
This is the narrative read of the 1:37 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 likely to take the uncontested lead?
Chicago Pope, whose run-style is front-runner with high confidence.
How many of the principals are held-up runners?
Four of the top five principals are described as usually held up and producing their effort late.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear?
Unauthorized.
On what ground has Amiata previously won over course and distance?
Yielding ground.
Which horse has the strongest trainer A/E figure at the Curragh among the principals?
Moltophino, with the trainer showing an A/E of 1.61 from 36 runs.
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