3:46 Ffos Las
This Class 3 novices' limited handicap steeplechase at Ffos Las over 2m7f177y on good to soft ground brings together a compact but competitive field of seven. The KTB Fit scores are headed by Legendary Luke and Boultydoolin, both on 69, with Inishcorker not far behind on 62, indicating a race where the principals hold the stronger claims on current ratings and course records. Several runners are stepping up in class while others drop in grade, and the lightly-raced profile of a couple adds an element of potential improvement.
How the race shapes up
With a strong pace likely and at least two habitual front-runners present, the early gallop should be genuine and could set the race up for those racing prominently or with a late kick. Legendary Luke, Boultydoolin, Inishcorker, Diamond Ri, Call Me Legend and Island Bridge are all inclined to race on or near the lead, which raises the possibility of the pace collapsing in the latter stages. That scenario would play into the hands of hold-up performers such as Kayf Dancer, posing the key question of whether the prominent brigade can sustain their effort or if the race will fall to something coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Legendary Luke69/100
Legendary Luke is a high-class performer who arrives in excellent shape having won four of his five starts including a clear success here over shorter. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question while the dam's limited record as a producer offers no strong clues. The yard drops him in class off an official rating of 124 and his prominent run-style should see him race handily in what is expected to be a strong gallop. Trainer Jamie Snowden boasts a 25% strike rate at Ffos Las from 112 runs while jockey Gavin Sheehan is even stronger at 23% from 181 rides, both figures sitting above their records at other tracks. His recent form of 21143- underlines his current wellbeing though he has no win or place from his sole run on good to soft ground.
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2Boultydoolin KTB Selection69/100
Boultydoolin is a high-class performer with only two runs in the last year yet has already shown strong form including a win at this trip. Lightly raced with a full brother to a winner on the dam side he remains not fully exposed though the small going sample leaves that side of things unknown as he has no runs on good to soft. The yard steps him up in class off an official rating of 127 and his front-running style will see him set or dispute the strong pace that is anticipated. Trainer Rebecca Curtis holds a 21% strike rate at Ffos Las from 499 runs which is above their 15% at other tracks while Ben Jones operates at 17% here from 215 rides in line with his overall figure. His recent form reads 3/121- and with no course form on record he remains an interesting contender stepping back to this venue.
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3Inishcorker62/100
Inishcorker is a high-class performer who has finished second in all four completed starts this season including both visits to this track. The trip seems to suit and the family has produced winners though the small overall sample makes the going an unknown; he has been placed once from three runs on good to soft without winning. Trainer Rebecca Curtis and jockey Sean Bowen both hold a 21% strike rate here with the yard operating above its general level from 499 runs at the track. His prominent run-style will see him race handily in a race where the pace is set to be strong, and he steps up in class off an official rating of 122. Recent form of 23222- together with course placings of second and second mark him out as a consistent threat.
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4Diamond Ri54/100
Diamond Ri is a smart performer on ratings who has been largely out of form of late with a string of poor efforts. Connections have a solid record at the track with both trainer and jockey operating right in line with their overall strike rates, Joe Tizzard at 19% from 27 runs and Brendan Powell at 11% from 131 rides. He steps up markedly in trip today off an official rating of 115 and this is his first run at Ffos Las so there are plenty of unknowns. His prominent run-style will see him race on or close to the lead in what looks a strongly-run affair. He has been placed once from two runs on good to soft without winning and his recent form reads /P0P9-.
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5Call Me Legend52/100
Call Me Legend arrives in strong form with four seconds and two wins from his last six starts and holds an official rating of 122. A high-class performer on his figures, he has won once and placed twice from four runs on good to soft ground yet drops back in trip to an untried 2m7f today after his last run over 3m2½f. The Philip Hobbs & Johnson White yard records a 15% strike rate at Ffos Las from 39 runs, in line with their record elsewhere, while apprentice Jack Stenhouse has only one ride at the track so far.
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6Island Bridge50/100
Island Bridge is a smart performer on his figures with a solid string of placed efforts including a third here over this trip. He has not won in seven starts and remains unsuccessful in three runs at today's distance. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 16 runs at Ffos Las while the jockey's 11% record at the track sits in line with his overall figure.
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7Kayf Dancer46/100
Kayf Dancer is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a placed effort last time out. He steps back up to this trip having been competitive on good to soft ground without winning. Trainer and jockey both operate at an 11% strike rate here at Ffos Las on their first run at the track.
KTB verdict
Boultydoolin is the KTB Selection. He is a high-class performer who has shown strong form including a win at this trip despite limited recent racing, and he remains not fully exposed with the family background of a winning full brother offering encouragement. The yard's above-average record at Ffos Las and his front-running style in a race set to be strongly run give him every chance to dictate matters. His main dangers are Legendary Luke, who has won here and arrives in excellent shape though the longer trip is a new question, and Inishcorker, who has been consistently placed including at this track and looks well suited by the distance. Diamond Ri brings the highest official rating of the field but his recent poor efforts temper enthusiasm.
KTB Selection Boultydoolin
This is the narrative read of the 3:46 Ffos Las. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ffos Las racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Ffos Las results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Ffos Las racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course form at Ffos Las among the principals?
Legendary Luke has won here from one run while Inishcorker has been placed twice from two starts; Boultydoolin and Diamond Ri have no course form on record.
How does the strong pace shape influence the principals' run-styles?
Boultydoolin, Legendary Luke, Inishcorker and Diamond Ri are all prominent or front-running types who will be involved early in a race where the pace is expected to be strong and could collapse late, potentially favouring hold-up horses.
What are the going credentials of the top two on KTB Fit?
Legendary Luke has one run on good to soft with no win or place; Boultydoolin has no runs on good to soft and is therefore unproven on the ground.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Ffos Las in this field?
Rebecca Curtis has a 21% strike rate at Ffos Las from 499 runs for both Boultydoolin and Inishcorker; Jamie Snowden is next at 25% from 112 runs for Legendary Luke.
Are there any family lines that offer encouragement for the principals?
Boultydoolin is a full brother to Cantico who won once from four runs and his dam has had one other winner; Inishcorker is a half-brother to Bhaloo who won five from 19 and his dam has had two winners from three other runners; Legendary Luke's dam has had one other runner that did not win.
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