2:23 Navan
This 5f180y maiden at Navan on good to firm ground brings together a field of 14 largely unexposed three-year-olds with a smattering of older runners. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Final Boss on 58, followed closely by Institute at 56 and Grande Cuvee on 51, indicating a competitive heat where small margins and the application of first-time headgear could prove decisive. Official ratings and recent form suggest plenty still have something to prove, with several runners unproven on fast ground and limited course experience between them.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape points towards a contested lead early on, with several prominent runners likely to vie for the front. Institute from stall one and Cool Azul are both expected to be forward, while Final Boss and Off We Go should track the pace from their respective draws. The key question is whether the race will fragment in the closing stages or if a strong pace will allow hold-up types to close in, particularly with the first-time headgear now on Final Boss and others.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Final Boss KTB Selection58/100
- 2Institute56/100
- 3Grande Cuvee51/100
- 4Banish Misfortune50/100
- 5Off We Go50/100
- 6Little Wing48/100
- 7Lady Moon48/100
- 8Cool Azul47/100
- 9Hasita44/100
- 10Wooloongabba44/100
- 11Strikepoint43/100
- 12Forza Magico43/100
- 13Kidd43/100
- 14Trek Home42/100
The contenders
Final Boss KTB Fit 58/100
Final Boss tops the KTB Fit Scores on 58 and is the clear selection. A 3-year-old with form figures of 935-0, he showed enough in his first three starts last season to suggest he can be competitive at this level. Now fitted with first-time headgear, he lines up for trainer Matthew J Smith who has an 11/127 record with a 9% strike rate at Navan and an A/E of 1.28. Robbie Colgan takes the ride with a 3% strike rate at the track from 492 rides. Unproven on good to firm and with a fifth-place finish from one run at the course, he is rated 11/1 in the market.
Institute KTB Fit 56/100
Institute arrives with a KTB Fit Score of 56 and is trained by A P O'Brien, whose record at Navan stands at 23% strike rate with an A/E of 0.98 from 1027 runs. The 3-year-old has form figures of 722-86, showing placed efforts last term before two runs this season. Wayne Lordan is in the saddle with an 8% strike rate at Navan from 645 rides. Unproven on good to firm and with no course form on record, he is prominent in the market at 5/2. His powerful yard and forward run-style make him a major player if the ground does not prove a hindrance.
Grande Cuvee KTB Fit 51/100
Grande Cuvee holds a KTB Fit Score of 51 and has shown promise in two starts with form figures of 93. The 3-year-old finished third on his only visit to Navan, placing without winning. Trained by J A Stack who has a 15% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.17 from 84 runs, he is ridden by Andrew Slattery who has a 5% strike rate at Navan from 172 rides. Unproven on good to firm, he is a solid each-way prospect at 17/2 and should be suited by the stiff finish if he can build on his placed effort.
Banish Misfortune KTB Fit 50/100
Banish Misfortune is rated 50 on the KTB Fit Score and is a 4-year-old with form figures of 08. Trained by Gerard Kyne who has no Navan record from six overall runs at 0%, he is partnered by Leigh Roche who has an 8% strike rate at the venue with an A/E of 1 from 325 rides. Unproven on good to firm and with no course form, he is a 100/1 shot in the market. His experience edge over many of the younger runners may count for something if the race develops into a test of stamina.
Off We Go KTB Fit 50/100
Off We Go also scores 50 on the KTB Fit and is a 3-year-old trained by A Oliver whose record at Navan is 8% strike rate with an A/E of 1.04 from 328 runs. He has one run on good to firm without placing and no course form on record. Robert Whearty takes the mount with a 9% strike rate at the track and an A/E of 1.05 from 99 rides. The trainer and jockey combination has produced a 1/18 record with an A/E of 0.77. At 80/1 in the market he is likely to need the run but could improve for the experience.
The rest of the field
Little WingKTB Fit 48/100
Little Wing has a KTB Fit Score of 48 and recent form of 99 as a 3-year-old. Trained by Charles O'Brien who has a 10% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 0.92 from 237 runs, he is ridden by Declan McDonogh with a 9% strike rate at the track. Unproven on good to firm and with no course form, he is a 66/1 chance.
Lady MoonKTB Fit 48/100
Lady Moon is rated 48 on KTB Fit with form figures of 90 as a 3-year-old. Now in first-time headgear for A Oliver who has an 8% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 1.04 from 328 runs. She has one run on good to firm without placing and no course form. Gary Carroll rides with a 7% strike rate at the venue and she is a 40/1 shot.
Cool AzulKTB Fit 47/100
Cool Azul holds a KTB Fit Score of 47 with form of 2237 as a 3-year-old. Trained by A Oliver who has an 8% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 1.04 from 328 runs, he is ridden by W J Lee with an 11% strike rate at the track. Unproven on good to firm and with no course form, he is 15/2 in the market.
HasitaKTB Fit 44/100
Hasita scores 44 on the KTB Fit with form figures of 08-334 as a 3-year-old. Now in first-time headgear for J P Murtagh who has a 12% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 0.94 from 246 runs. Unproven on good to firm and with no course form, she is ridden by Ben Coen with a 9% strike rate at the venue and is 4/1 in the market.
WooloongabbaKTB Fit 44/100
Wooloongabba is rated 44 on KTB Fit as a 3-year-old by Starman. Trained by John C McConnell who has a 4% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 0.67 from 387 runs, he is ridden by Siobhan Rutledge with a 5% strike rate at the track. No course win on record and a 66/1 chance.
StrikepointKTB Fit 43/100
Strikepoint holds a KTB Fit Score of 43 as a 3-year-old by Phoenix Of Spain. Trained by John James Feane who has a 5% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 0.45 from 86 runs, he is ridden by Rory Cleary with a 5% strike rate at the venue. No course win on record and a 33/1 shot.
Forza MagicoKTB Fit 43/100
Forza Magico is rated 43 on KTB Fit with a recent form figure of 5 as a 3-year-old. Trained by John James Feane who has a 5% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 0.45 from 86 runs, he has one run on good to firm without placing and no course form. Ronan Whelan rides and he is 7/2 in the market.
KiddKTB Fit 43/100
Kidd has a KTB Fit Score of 43 with a recent form figure of 7 as a 3-year-old. Now in first-time headgear for John C McConnell who has a 4% strike rate at Navan with an A/E of 0.67 from 387 runs. Jessica Maye claims 7lb but has a 0% strike rate at the track from five rides. Unproven on good to firm, no course form and a 125/1 chance.
Trek HomeKTB Fit 42/100
Trek Home is rated 42 on the KTB Fit with form figures of 444 as a 3-year-old. He has placed once on good to firm from one run and finished fourth on his only start at Navan. Trained by Daniel James Murphy who has a 3% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.41 from 29 runs, he is ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle with a 12% strike rate at Navan and is 7/2 in the market.
KTB verdict
Final Boss tops the KTB Fit Scores and is the selection in a race where several principals remain unproven on good to firm ground. His first-time headgear may sharpen him up, and the combination of his yard's record at the track and his previous placed efforts give him the edge. The main dangers are Institute from the powerful O'Brien yard, who should go well if handling the surface, and Grande Cuvee who has already shown placed form at the course. Banish Misfortune and Off We Go add depth but look to have more to do, while the remainder of the field largely lack the same level of encouragement on the figures.
KTB Selection Final Boss
This is the narrative read of the 2:23 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 is unproven on good to firm but carries first-time headgear and is the KTB selection?
Final Boss
What is the KTB Fit Score of the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse who is prominent in the market?
56
Which runner has already placed at Navan and holds a KTB Fit Score of 51?
Grande Cuvee
How many runners in the field are wearing first-time headgear?
Four
Which horse has a placed effort on good to firm and finished fourth on its only previous run at Navan?
Trek Home
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