2:17 Navan
This 5f handicap at Navan on good ground features a large field of 23 runners where the official ratings cluster in the mid-70s to low-80s. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Step Back In Time heading the list on 61, followed closely by Alnofoor on 59 and Asdana and Thurso both on 58. Recent form is mixed across the runners, but course records at Navan and proven ability at the minimum trip will be key factors in a race that looks competitive on paper.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, including Ballysax Lil' Mick, Plushy and Lethimfly, while several others such as Step Back In Time, Alnofoor, Harry's Hill and Jordan Breeze like to race prominently. This shape suggests the early leaders could go hard and potentially collapse in the closing stages, which would play into the hands of hold-up performers like Thurso, Happy Henry and Astute Power. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate terms and hold on or if the race will fall apart late to suit those coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Step Back In Time KTB Selection61/100RPR 74 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 2Alnofoor59/100RPR 76 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 3Asdana58/100RPR 81 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 4Thurso58/100RPR 80 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 5Ballysax Lil' Mick57/100RPR 78 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 6Harry's Hill56/100RPR 80 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 7Plushy55/100RPR 77 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 8Jackie Jump Up54/100RPR 77 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 9Astute Power53/100RPR 80 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 10Three Sixteen52/100RPR 67 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 11Sommelier51/100RPR 78 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 12Happy Henry51/100RPR 75 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 13Caffu Zafeen51/100RPR 75 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 14Mickey The Steel50/100RPR 75 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 15Polar Bear50/100RPR 70 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 16Lethimfly50/100RPR 78 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 17Jordan Breeze50/100RPR 75 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 18Viamonte49/100RPR 80 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 19Mint Man48/100RPR 80 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 20Hugo's Girl46/100RPR 75 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 21An Laochmor46/100RPR 71 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 22Verified45/100RPR 78 — field comparison calculated at page load
- 23Jazzit38/100RPR 70 — field comparison calculated at page load
The contenders
Step Back In Time KTB Fit 61/100
Step Back In Time is a modest performer with a solid record at this track, having won four of his 13 runs here. He drops back to 5f today after his last run over 6f and has won twice at the trip from 15 attempts. The Chris Timmons yard has a 14% strike rate at Navan from 59 runs while the horse acts on good ground with two wins and three placed efforts from 11 starts. Rory Cleary takes the ride and the pair benefit from a prominent run-style that should see him race handily on or close to the lead. His figures of RPR 74 and TS 71 place him right in the mix on field comparison and he is the KTB Selection.
Alnofoor KTB Fit 59/100
Alnofoor is a fair performer who arrives in solid form after two wins this year. He has won over this trip and at Navan itself though he is drawn widest of all in stall 20 and his record on good ground reads no win or place from three runs. The trainer’s modest 4% strike rate at the track is offset by an A/E of 1.05 which suggests some value in her runners here. Jack Kearney rides and the combination should see him race prominently from his wide draw. With RPR 76 he holds a slight edge on official figures over several rivals and his recent 88-113 form marks him down as a major player.
Asdana KTB Fit 58/100
Asdana is a fair performer who has run well enough at Navan without winning, finishing third on one of three starts here. One win from eight at this trip and a placed effort on good ground add some positives, though the recent form figures of 02-040 show consistency has been hard to come by. Trainer's modest 8% strike rate at the track is another factor to weigh and W J Lee takes the mount for Willie McCreery. He will settle in mid-division and his RPR of 81 is the highest in the field on paper. The draw in stall 10 looks workable and he could improve back at the minimum trip.
Thurso KTB Fit 58/100
Thurso is a fair performer who has run creditably at this level without being fully exposed after 22 starts. He drops back to 5f having won at the trip previously and is 1 from 1 on good ground though he has never been to Navan before. Richard Hughes has no recorded runners at the track while Seamie Heffernan has a modest strike rate here. His held-up run-style will see him produce his effort late and the strong pace should suit. RPR 80 places him competitively and he is open to further progress at this trip.
Ballysax Lil' Mick KTB Fit 57/100
Ballysax Lil' Mick is a fair performer on his best days but has become inconsistent and ran poorly on his most recent start. He has a win at this trip though he is now 0-17 in his last attempts at 5f and his record on good ground reads just 1-9. The yard holds a modest 5% strike-rate at Navan from 21 runs while he himself is 0-2 here. Killian Leonard rides and the horse will tend to make the running or race on the pace. His RPR of 78 keeps him in the conversation although the recent 1526-0 form suggests he needs to bounce back.
The rest of the field
Harry's HillKTB Fit 56/100
Harry's Hill is a fair handicapper who has been placed twice from eight runs at Navan without winning. He has won seven times at this trip overall and handles good ground, recording four wins from 17 starts on it. The yard's modest 8% strike rate at the track is offset by a respectable A/E of 0.94.
PlushyKTB Fit 55/100
Plushy is a fair 3-year-old who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning. He has been below that level on his last two starts though and the wide draw in stall 17 is far from ideal at Navan. The trainer's modest 9% strike rate here from a large sample adds no encouragement.
Jackie Jump UpKTB Fit 54/100
Jackie Jump Up is a fair sort who has already shown ability here when finishing third over 6f at two. Dropping back to an untried 5f poses a fresh question while the recent handicap debut at Fairyhouse was underwhelming. The yard has a solid 12% strike rate from 241 runs at Navan.
Astute PowerKTB Fit 53/100
Astute Power is a fair sort who has shown his best at this track with a placed effort over C&D on soft ground last autumn. He drops back to 5f today after a poor return over 6f at the Curragh and has yet to win in six starts. The yard's modest 8% strike rate from 417 runs at Navan adds a note of caution.
Three SixteenKTB Fit 52/100
Three Sixteen is a modest performer who showed little on his first run for this yard after a break. He drops back to 5f having been well held over 6f last time and his sole previous run at the trip brought no joy. Trainer has a solid 17% strike rate from six runs at Navan.
SommelierKTB Fit 51/100
Sommelier is a fair performer who ran well to win a 6.5f handicap at the Curragh last time but now drops back to 5f for the first time in a while. Has placed once in nine runs at this trip and showed some competitiveness on good ground without winning. Trainer holds a solid 11% strike rate at Navan from 114 runs while the horse's own record here reads just a modest seventh on his only visit.
Happy HenryKTB Fit 51/100
Happy Henry is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the first three in four of his last five starts. He has placed on all three visits to Navan and has run creditably on good ground, though he is now dropping back to 5f having failed to win in eight attempts at the trip. First-time headgear is applied today while the yard's modest 8% strike rate at the track suggests he will need to improve to get his head in front.
Caffu ZafeenKTB Fit 51/100
Caffu Zafeen is a fair maiden who has not managed better than sixth in four runs this year and looks exposed after ten career starts. He has been placed both times he has encountered good ground and now drops back to 5f for the first time since an unsuccessful attempt at the trip as a two-year-old. Trainer James Tate has no recorded runners at Navan while jockey J M Sheridan also has no course record to call on.
Mickey The SteelKTB Fit 50/100
Mickey The Steel is a fair performer who has won twice at Navan from seven runs and drops back to his winning 5f trip today. He has been consistent of late with three placed efforts in his last five starts yet remains winless on good ground from 11 attempts. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at the track is a negative.
Polar BearKTB Fit 50/100
Polar Bear is a modest performer who has been placed three times from six runs at Navan without winning. Drops back to 5f today having scored once at the trip from 14 attempts, though recent form of 04350 suggests he is vulnerable to sharper types. Trainer's 11% strike rate from over a thousand runs at the track underlines the yard's solid but unspectacular record here.
LethimflyKTB Fit 50/100
Lethimfly has looked useful at times without winning for a while and ran creditably when second at this trip on his latest start. He has a win on good ground and has won over today's distance though his overall strike-rate is modest. First-time headgear is now tried while the trainer's long record at Navan shows a 13% strike-rate from 1802 runs.
Jordan BreezeKTB Fit 50/100
Jordan Breeze is a fair sort who arrives in decent form with three straight places including a win at this trip. Has never won or placed on good ground from six attempts though and the wide draw in stall 16 is far from ideal. Trainer's 9 percent strike rate at Navan from a big sample offers no particular encouragement.
ViamonteKTB Fit 49/100
Viamonte is a fair performer who has been placed on his last two visits to Navan and has a solid record on good ground. He has been competitive at this trip without winning and holds his form well enough to be in the mix again. The yard's poor record at the track is a clear negative.
Mint ManKTB Fit 48/100
Mint Man is a fair performer on his best days but has been largely out of form this year and looks stretched by a 0-13 record at this trip. He has never won or placed in three runs at Navan and the yard is currently 0-30 at the track. First-time headgear is reached for as he drops back to 5f having last run over 6½f.
Hugo's GirlKTB Fit 46/100
Hugo's Girl is a fair performer on her best days with RPRs around the mid-70s but she has been hit and miss this year. She has shown some ability on good ground yet remains winless after 15 runs and was well held when last seen over 6f. The trainer has failed to land a winner from ten runs at Navan while she herself could only manage ninth on her sole visit here.
An LaochmorKTB Fit 46/100
An Laochmor is a modest performer who has been in decent form of late with two wins and two seconds from his last four starts. Placed without winning in three of his four runs at Navan and has shown he can be competitive on good ground. Trainer's modest record here adds a note of caution.
VerifiedKTB Fit 45/100
Verified is a fair handicapper who has run well in places at Navan without winning and has placed twice over this trip. He has been well below form on his last two starts and the yard's poor record here adds to the negatives. On good ground he has been competitive without scoring.
JazzitKTB Fit 38/100
Jazzit is a modest performer who has been placed a few times without winning and arrives in ordinary form. Drops back to 5f today having been placed at the trip earlier in his career though he is unproven on good ground. Trainer's poor record at Navan is a negative and this is his first run in headgear.
KTB verdict
Step Back In Time is the KTB Selection. He brings a solid course record to the table with four wins from 13 runs at Navan, drops back to a trip at which he has scored twice, and acts on good ground. His prominent style should allow him to track the expected strong pace before delivering, and the yard's healthy record at the venue adds to the appeal. Main dangers include Alnofoor, who arrives in good heart with recent wins and course form, and Asdana, whose highest RPR of 81 suggests he has the raw ability if he can rediscover consistency. Thurso and Ballysax Lil' Mick are others who can feature if the race develops as anticipated.
KTB Selection Step Back In Time
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 05:40 UTC, 7 Jun. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Step Back In Time | 28/1 | BresBet |
| Alnofoor | 8/1 | BresBet |
| Asdana | 28/1 | BresBet |
| Ballysax Lil' Mick | 28/1 | Bet Victor |
| Harry's Hill | 16/1 | Bet Victor |
| Jackie Jump Up | 20/1 | BetTom |
| Astute Power | 28/1 | BresBet |
| Three Sixteen | 28/1 | BresBet |
| Sommelier | 4/1 | Bet Victor |
| Caffu Zafeen | 18/1 | Bet Victor |
| Polar Bear | 16/1 | Bet Victor |
| Lethimfly | 11/1 | BetTom |
| Jordan Breeze | 5/1 | BetMGM |
| Viamonte | 22/1 | William Hill |
| Mint Man | 18/1 | Grosvenor Sports |
| Hugo's Girl | 8/1 | Unibet |
| An Laochmor | 9/1 | BresBet |
| Verified | 18/1 | Betfred |
| Jazzit | 28/1 | Bet Victor |
This is the narrative read of the 2:17 Navan. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Navan racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Navan?
Step Back In Time has won four of his 13 runs at the track.
How is the strong pace likely to affect hold-up horses?
The strong pace could collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses.
Which runners are noted as front-runners or prominent?
Ballysax Lil' Mick tends to make the running, while Step Back In Time, Alnofoor, Harry's Hill, Plushy, Sommelier, Mickey The Steel, Lethimfly, Jordan Breeze, Viamonte, Hugo's Girl, An Laochmor, Jazzit and Mint Man like to race prominently.
What is the highest RPR in the field?
Asdana has the highest RPR on 81.
Which horse is dropping back to 5f after a run over further?
Step Back In Time drops back to 5f after his last run over 6f, while several others including Thurso, Astute Power, Three Sixteen, Sommelier, Happy Henry, Astute Power and Mint Man are also dropping in trip.
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