3:52 Gowran Park
The Darley Irish EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes is a Listed race over 1m1f100y at Gowran Park on good to firm ground. An eight-runner field of mostly three-year-olds features plenty of unexposed types alongside some more experienced performers, with the KTB Fit scores showing a fairly tight bunch at the top end. Skydance heads the KTB rankings on 63 and is the selection, though Minerva, Lemsairbat and Subsonic are all closely matched on the numbers.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy should pay. Most of the field are held-up types who produce their effort late, so the key question is whether any horse can get into a good position early enough without using up too much energy. Holly's Graces is the one runner likely to race prominently, which could give her an advantage in a race where the pace may not be strong.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Skydance KTB Selection63/100Skydance is a smart 3-year-old with strong recent form including a win last time and solid placed efforts before that.
- 2Minerva57/100Minerva is a useful performer who showed her best when winning a maiden over 1m2f last season before a respectable return in a stronger race.
- 3Lemsairbat55/100Useful performer who has run well at Gowran on two of three starts, finishing placed without winning.
- 4Subsonic54/100Useful performer who has run creditably on his last two starts without quite landing a blow.
- 5Hollys Graces50/100Fair performer who ran well to finish second over this trip on her only start at Gowran Park.
- 6Classiest49/100Classiest showed plenty when winning on debut over 1m at this track last season.
- 7Star Performer47/100Star Performer showed plenty when winning on debut over this trip on good to firm ground.
- 8Moonlit Sun45/100Moonlit Sun is a useful colt who has shown steady progress in three starts, winning a maiden and finishing a solid third in a listed race last time.
The contenders
Skydance KTB Fit 63/100
Skydance is a smart three-year-old with strong recent form, including a win last time and solid placed efforts before that. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question. The yard has an 11 percent strike rate from 354 runs at Gowran Park. W J Lee takes the ride, and the combination has been competitive on good to firm without winning. Usually held up and producing its effort late, Skydance will need the steadily-run race to unfold in his favour from draw 6. Recent form figures of 265-13 underline his progressive profile.
Minerva KTB Fit 57/100
Minerva is a useful performer who showed her best when winning a maiden over 1m2f last season before a respectable return in a stronger race. She has already run once at Gowran when finishing a solid fourth and the yard's strong 22% strike-rate here adds some encouragement. She drops back in trip today with no experience of good to firm ground, both of which remain unknowns. Wayne Lordan is on board for Aidan O'Brien, whose record at the track is noteworthy. Usually held up and producing its effort late, she will be hoping the tactical nature of the race plays to her strengths.
Lemsairbat KTB Fit 55/100
Lemsairbat is a useful performer who has run well at Gowran on two of three starts, finishing placed without winning. He drops back from 1m4f to a trip where he has been placed twice in three runs, though he is unproven on good to firm ground. Trainer Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a solid 14% strike rate here from a big sample. Dylan Browne McMonagle rides, and the pair will look to make the most of a good draw. Usually held up, though with medium confidence in that assessment, he is capable of making his mark if the ground does not prove against him.
Subsonic KTB Fit 54/100
Subsonic is a useful performer who has run creditably on his last two starts without quite landing a blow. He has already placed over today's trip and at this track, though his sole run on good to firm ground brought no reward. First-time headgear is now fitted and the yard's solid 18 percent strike rate at Gowran adds some encouragement. Ben Coen partners the four-year-old from draw 2 for Johnny Murtagh. Usually held up and producing its effort late, Subsonic will be suited by the likely tactical pace and could improve for the new headgear.
The rest of the field
Hollys GracesKTB Fit 50/100
Hollys Graces is a fair performer who ran well to finish second over this trip on her only start at Gowran Park. She has shown little on her two starts this year but the first-time headgear may help her settle better from stall 3. The yard has a solid 13% strike rate at the track from a big sample.
ClassiestKTB Fit 49/100
Classiest showed plenty when winning on debut over 1m at this track last season. The trip is a fresh question today and first-time headgear is now fitted. Trainer A P O'Brien has a solid 22% strike rate at Gowran from a big sample while jockey Ronan Whelan has a 9% strike rate from 187 rides at the course.
Star PerformerKTB Fit 47/100
Star Performer showed plenty when winning on debut over this trip on good to firm ground. The yard has a solid 14% strike rate at Gowran from a big sample. Everything is unexposed here with only one run in the book so this is still early days.
Moonlit SunKTB Fit 45/100
Moonlit Sun is a useful colt who has shown steady progress in three starts, winning a maiden and finishing a solid third in a listed race last time. He steps up in trip today for a trainer with an 11% strike rate from over a thousand runs at Gowran Park. The trip is an unknown and the going sample is too small to judge, but he remains lightly raced with scope to improve.
KTB verdict
Skydance is the KTB Selection and sets a strong standard on recent form. His win last time and placed efforts before that mark him down as smart, and although the longer trip is a new question he has the ability to cope. The steadily-run race should suit his held-up style if things fall right, while the yard's record at Gowran offers further reassurance. Main dangers are Minerva, who brings strong yard form and prior course experience, and Lemsairbat, who has run well at the track before. Subsonic cannot be ruled out with the first-time headgear and placed form over the trip.
KTB Selection Skydance
This is the narrative read of the 3:52 Gowran Park. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Gowran Park racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is stepping up in trip for the first time?
Skydance steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question.
Who is the only runner likely to race prominently?
Hollys Graces is the one runner likely to race prominently.
Which horse has already won over this trip on good to firm ground?
Star Performer showed plenty when winning on debut over this trip on good to firm ground.
How many times has Lemsairbat been placed at Gowran Park?
Lemsairbat has run well at Gowran on two of three starts, finishing placed without winning.
What is the yard strike rate at Gowran for the trainer of the selection?
The yard has an 11 percent strike rate from 354 runs at Gowran Park.
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