2:00 Downpatrick
A competitive 14-runner Randox Handicap Hurdle over 2m1f165y at Downpatrick on good to yielding ground. The KTB numbers show a tight contest at the top with Arcland and Black Soul sharing the highest Fit Score of 63, closely followed by Cozone and Goodie Girl on 61. Several runners have course-winning form, but trainer and jockey records at the track vary markedly, and the application of first-time headgear to a number of horses adds an extra layer of interest.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a race that should be run at a genuine gallop with a good mix of front-runners and prominent racers in the field. Arcland and Goodie Girl are both likely to be forward, while several others including Cozone and Warm In Gorey can race handily. The key question is whether the strong pace will suit those coming from off the pace or if the prominent runners can dominate in what looks a strongly-run handicap.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Arcland KTB Selection63/100
- 2Black Soul63/100
- 3Cozone61/100
- 4Goodie Girl61/100
- 5Bruant60/100
- 6Typical Thomas54/100
- 7Warm In Gorey54/100
- 8Garnetot51/100
- 9Emesteraye51/100
- 10Liceo50/100
- 11King Of The Greys47/100
- 12Cooladdi46/100
- 13Rogue Sea42/100
- 14Solar Generation42/100
The contenders
Arcland KTB Fit 63/100
Arcland arrives with a KTB Fit Score of 63 and is the clear selection. The 10-year-old has shown useful form, finishing second and fourth in recent completed starts before a respectable fifth last time, and he has won here from four starts at Downpatrick. Gavin Cromwell has a 15% strike rate at the track, though the 7lb claimer Eoghan Finegan is yet to strike from 16 rides. He has been placed five times from 11 starts on good to yielding ground without winning, and first-time headgear is now applied as he looks to build on his course record.
Black Soul KTB Fit 63/100
Black Soul also tops the KTB Fit ratings on 63 but has a patchy recent record, shown by figures of 989F-9. The 7-year-old has no course form and no Downpatrick record for trainer Conor Houlihan from three previous runs. Mike O'Connor provides some encouragement with an 11% strike rate at the venue from 54 rides. He has had only one run on good to yielding ground when he failed to place, so the surface remains a slight question mark as he attempts to get back on track.
Cozone KTB Fit 61/100
Cozone comes into the race with a KTB Fit Score of 61 and recent form of 8/16-3 that includes a placing last time. The 9-year-old has won here from two starts at Downpatrick and the trainer-jockey combination of Matthew J Smith and James Smith has solid figures at the track, with the trainer on 15% and the 5lb claimer boasting a 16% strike rate. He has been placed once from five runs on good to yielding ground and looks sure to be competitive again given his course success.
Goodie Girl KTB Fit 61/100
Goodie Girl is rated 61 on KTB Fit and boasts an excellent record at this venue, having won both starts here. Her form figures of FP/1F- show she can mix the good with the bad, but the 8-year-old has won once and placed once from five runs on good to yielding ground. Dermot A McLoughlin has an 8% strike rate at Downpatrick, though Alan O'Sullivan is still seeking his first winner from six rides at the track. She is expected to go well again if returning in similar form.
Bruant KTB Fit 60/100
Bruant is next on the KTB Fit ratings with a score of 60 and recent form of /1P0-1 that includes a win last time. The 5-year-old has an outstanding record at Downpatrick, winning both starts at the track. A J Martin has a 13% strike rate here from a large sample, though the jockey booking is unavailable. He has won once and placed once from two runs on good to yielding ground and first-time headgear is now fitted, which could help him build on his course record.
The rest of the field
Typical ThomasKTB Fit 54/100
Typical Thomas has a KTB Fit Score of 54 and recent form of 6/68-9. The 9-year-old has won here from three starts at Downpatrick and has two wins from nine runs on good to yielding ground. Trainer and jockey combination is 0/6 at the track with a modest record.
Warm In GoreyKTB Fit 54/100
Warm In Gorey is rated 54 on KTB Fit with form figures of BPPP-3, showing a recent placing. The 8-year-old has won here from three starts at Downpatrick and has one win and three places from six runs on good to yielding. The trainer has a 7% strike rate at the venue while the jockey is on 9%.
GarnetotKTB Fit 51/100
Garnetot has a KTB Fit Score of 51 and form of 562F-0. The 5-year-old has no course form and is unproven on good to yielding ground. Gordon Elliott has a strong 19% strike rate at Downpatrick but the jockey is yet to score from ten rides; first-time headgear is now applied.
EmesterayeKTB Fit 51/100
Emesteraye is rated 51 on KTB Fit with form of 608-3 that includes a recent placing. The 5-year-old has been placed once from one run on good to yielding ground but has no course form. The trainer has a 10% strike rate at Downpatrick.
LiceoKTB Fit 50/100
Liceo has a KTB Fit Score of 50 and recent form of 940-93. The 6-year-old has been placed once from three runs on good to yielding but has no course form. The trainer has an 8% strike rate at the track while the jockey is on 3% from 95 rides.
King Of The GreysKTB Fit 47/100
King Of The Greys is rated 47 on KTB Fit with form of 408-8. The 5-year-old has had one run on good to yielding when unplaced and has no course form. The trainer-jockey combination has produced a 20% strike rate from ten runs.
CooladdiKTB Fit 46/100
Cooladdi has a KTB Fit Score of 46 and form of /3276-. The 6-year-old has been placed once from one run on good to yielding but has no course form. The trainer has a 0% strike rate at Downpatrick from 19 runs.
Rogue SeaKTB Fit 42/100
Rogue Sea is rated 42 on KTB Fit with form of 83/6-F. The 6-year-old is unproven on good to yielding ground and has no course form. The trainer has an 11% strike rate at the venue while the jockey is yet to score from 21 rides.
Solar GenerationKTB Fit 42/100
Solar Generation has the lowest KTB Fit Score of 42 and form of 00-5. The 5-year-old has had one run on good to yielding when unplaced and has no course form. First-time headgear is now fitted as the trainer holds an 11% strike rate at Downpatrick.
KTB verdict
Arcland is the KTB Selection and sets a solid standard with his course win, consistent recent form and a KTB Fit Score that matches the top of the pile. He has the right run style to be prominent in a race that should go at a good gallop, and the first-time headgear could sharpen him further. His main dangers are Cozone and Goodie Girl, both with strong course records and suitable conditions, while Bruant cannot be dismissed given his own flawless record at Downpatrick if the headgear works.
KTB Selection Arcland
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:32 UTC, 13 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Arcland | 17/2 | BetTom |
| Black Soul | 25/1 | BetTom |
| Cozone | 4/1 | BetTom |
| Goodie Girl | 9/1 | BetTom |
| Typical Thomas | 33/1 | Bet365 |
| Warm In Gorey | 10/1 | BetTom |
| Garnetot | 20/1 | Bet365 |
| Emesteraye | 7/2 | BetTom |
| Liceo | 11/2 | Bet365 |
| King Of The Greys | 14/1 | BetTom |
| Cooladdi | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Rogue Sea | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Solar Generation | 14/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 Downpatrick. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Downpatrick racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the best course record at Downpatrick?
Goodie Girl and Bruant have both won both of their starts here, while Arcland, Cozone, Typical Thomas and Warm In Gorey have also won at the track.
Who has the strongest trainer record at Downpatrick in this race?
Gordon Elliott has a 19% strike rate at Downpatrick from 908 runs, the highest in the field.
Which runners are wearing headgear for the first time?
Arcland, Bruant, Garnetot and Solar Generation are all fitted with first-time headgear.
How many horses in the field have previous winning form on good to yielding ground?
Goodie Girl, Bruant, Typical Thomas and Warm In Gorey have all won on good to yielding ground.
Which jockey has the best strike rate at Downpatrick among those riding in this race?
James Smith has a 16% strike rate at Downpatrick from 31 rides.
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