4:00 Dundalk
A 17-runner 1m handicap at Dundalk on standard ground promises to be a steadily-run, tactical affair in a race where the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top end. Never Mind Me tops the KTB rankings on 62 with Famous Enough next on 57, while the remainder of the field sits between 52 and 33. With no obvious front-runner, the shape favours those who can be handy or produce a well-timed late effort, and several runners arrive with first-time headgear in search of improvement.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lack of an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run race in which being handy or well positioned will pay dividends. Most of the field are held-up types who will be looking to come from off the pace, with a handful settling in mid-division. The key question is whether the race will develop into a sprint for the line or whether those who can get a nice position early will be able to dictate matters in a tactical contest.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Never Mind Me KTB Selection62/100Modest performer who has shown occasional spark without winning in nine starts.
- 2Famous Enough57/100Limited performer who has been consistent enough on the all-weather lately without winning.
- 3Queen Leila52/100Limited filly who has looked nothing special in ten starts but did find a bit of improvement to win a modest handicap over this trip at Down Royal last time.
- 4Angel Of Promise48/100Limited performer who has shown very little in seven starts and makes no appeal from a wide draw.
- 5Bullet Bourbon48/100Limited horse who has been in and out this year and is now trying 1m for the first time having failed to win at the trip in two previous attempts.
- 6Beau Army47/100Limited performer who has been in and out this year and often finds one or two too good.
- 7Roman Harry46/100Roman Harry is a limited performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 8Movin And Groovin45/100Limited performer who showed a bit more when winning a handicap over this trip at Cork last time.
- 9Six Wings43/100Limited performer who has shown very little in six starts and looks up against it from stall 10.
- 10Polanco43/100Polanco has shown very little in seven runs and looks limited on both ratings and recent form.
- 11Misava42/100Limited performer who has shown very little in four starts and makes no appeal from a wide draw.
- 12Cause I Like You42/100Limited performer who has shown just one win from 14 starts and looks no better than fair at this level.
- 13Tenacious41/100Limited performer who has struggled to make an impact in nine starts and now tries first-time headgear.
- 14Due In June39/100Limited performer who has struggled in five starts to date and shown no real sign of improving.
- 15Master Garvey37/100Master Garvey is a limited performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 16Rampage34/100Limited performer who has been largely out of form this year and arrives with a string of poor efforts.
- 17Reponse Finale33/100Limited performer who has shown little spark on this surface in four runs and is drawn wide today from stall 12.
The contenders
Never Mind Me KTB Fit 62/100
Never Mind Me is a modest performer who has shown occasional spark without winning in nine starts. He has been placed once from four runs on standard ground and once at this trip, though his latest efforts were poor. The trainer holds a strong record at Dundalk with a 22% strike rate and an A/E of 2.35 from 18 runs, while the jockey's 12% strike rate here comes with an A/E of 1.06 from 93 rides. He typically settles in midfield and will look to be handy in a race that lacks an obvious leader. His draw in stall 2 is an advantage in what is likely to be a tactical affair.
Famous Enough KTB Fit 57/100
Famous Enough is a limited performer who has been consistent enough on the all-weather lately without winning. He boasts a win and three places from six runs on standard ground and has also scored at this trip, though his overall record of two wins from 29 starts reflects his level. First-time headgear is now tried as he looks to build on recent placed efforts. The trainer has a 10% strike rate at Dundalk with an A/E of 1.22 from 10 runs, while the jockey operates at 10% with an A/E of 0.91 from 608 rides. Usually held up, he will be produced late in a steadily-run race where his surface prowess could come into play.
Queen Leila KTB Fit 52/100
Queen Leila is a limited filly who has looked nothing special in ten starts but found a bit of improvement to win a modest handicap over this trip at Down Royal last time. First-time headgear is now applied and she has already shown she handles the surface with a win and two places from eight runs on standard. The trainer and jockey both have solid if unspectacular records at Dundalk, the former at 8% with an A/E of 0.96 from 192 runs and the latter at 10% with an A/E of 1.05 from 146 rides. Usually held up, she will be looking to come from off the pace in what should be a tactical contest.
Angel Of Promise KTB Fit 48/100
Angel Of Promise is a limited performer who has shown very little in seven starts and makes no appeal from a wide draw in stall 15. First-time headgear is tried in a bid to spark some improvement but the recent form figures of 09-005 offer no encouragement. The trainer Edward Lynam has a modest 12% strike rate at Dundalk from 69 runs. Usually held up, she will need to find plenty on what she has shown so far on just one previous run on standard ground.
Bullet Bourbon KTB Fit 48/100
Bullet Bourbon is a limited horse who has been in and out this year and is now trying 1m for the first time having failed to win at the trip in two previous attempts. He has won once and placed twice from three runs on standard ground so the surface is no concern. The trainer's modest 3% strike rate at Dundalk from 109 runs is a clear negative, though the jockey offers some hope with a 12% record and A/E of 0.81 from 516 rides. Typically settling in midfield, he will look to be handy in a race that lacks an obvious leader.
The rest of the field
Beau ArmyKTB Fit 47/100
Beau Army is a limited performer who has been in and out this year and often finds one or two too good. First run at Dundalk is neutral while the step up to 1m asks a fresh question though he has placed twice at the trip already. First-time headgear is now tried and the yard's modest 10% strike rate here is matched by the jockey's solid 12%. Usually held up from stall 1.
Roman HarryKTB Fit 46/100
Roman Harry is a limited performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He steps up to 1m for the first time in a while having been placed but not won at the trip previously, while his record on standard ground reads two wins and five places from 14 starts. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate at Dundalk from 224 runs. Usually held up from a wide draw.
Movin And GroovinKTB Fit 45/100
Movin And Groovin is a limited performer who showed a bit more when winning a handicap over this trip at Cork last time. He has two wins from ten runs on standard surfaces and is proven at the distance, though the wide draw in stall 14 is far from ideal. The trainer has a 10% strike rate from 1262 runs at Dundalk while the jockey operates at 5% from 665 rides here. Usually held up.
Six WingsKTB Fit 43/100
Six Wings is a limited performer who has shown very little in six starts and looks up against it from stall 10. He has failed to trouble the judge in four runs at this trip and first-time headgear is now reached for. The trainer maintains a solid 10% strike rate at Dundalk while the jockey operates at 5%. Usually held up and unproven on standard ground.
PolancoKTB Fit 43/100
Polanco has shown very little in seven runs and looks limited on both ratings and recent form. Dropping back to 1m is an unknown and first-time headgear is now tried after a string of poor efforts. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at Dundalk adds no encouragement. Usually held up and unproven on standard ground.
MisavaKTB Fit 42/100
Misava is a limited performer who has shown very little in four starts and makes no appeal from a wide draw in stall 11. She steps up to 1m for the first time today having failed to make an impact over shorter, while first-time headgear is now reached for. The trainer and jockey both have solid established records at Dundalk. Usually held up and unproven on standard ground.
Cause I Like YouKTB Fit 42/100
Cause I Like You is a limited performer who has shown just one win from 14 starts and looks no better than fair at this level. He has won at today's trip but is 0-8 on standard ground and now tries Dundalk for the first time. First-time headgear is fitted while both trainer and jockey have modest records at the track. Typically settles in midfield.
TenaciousKTB Fit 41/100
Tenacious is a limited performer who has struggled to make an impact in nine starts and now tries first-time headgear. He drops back to 1m having been placed once at the trip earlier in the year, though the recent form of 093008 suggests he is out of form. The trainer has an 8% strike rate at Dundalk from 66 runs while the jockey fares slightly better with an 11% record from over 2,000 rides here. Usually held up.
Due In JuneKTB Fit 39/100
Due In June is a limited performer who has struggled in five starts to date and shown no real sign of improving. He has been tried over this trip twice without success and now goes in headgear for the first time. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 41 runs at Dundalk. Usually held up and unproven on standard ground.
Master GarveyKTB Fit 37/100
Master Garvey is a limited performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He steps up in trip today having won once over this distance in the past though his recent efforts at 7f suggest stamina could be an issue. First-time headgear is tried while both trainer and jockey have modest records at Dundalk. Usually held up.
RampageKTB Fit 34/100
Rampage is a limited performer who has been largely out of form this year and arrives with a string of poor efforts. First-time headgear is tried today while he does have a couple of wins on this surface and at the trip. The trainer has a modest 3% strike rate at Dundalk. Typically settles in midfield.
Reponse FinaleKTB Fit 33/100
Reponse Finale is a limited performer who has shown little spark on this surface in four runs and is drawn wide today from stall 12. She has placed once at the trip but never won in nine attempts and arrives on the back of moderate recent form. The trainer and jockey both operate at modest strike rates around here. Usually held up.
KTB verdict
Never Mind Me is the KTB Selection. He tops the Fit rankings as a modest performer with occasional spark, placed on standard ground and at the trip, and benefits from a trainer in excellent form at Dundalk plus a favourable draw in stall 2. In a steadily-run affair that lacks a leader, his ability to settle in midfield and be handy could prove decisive. The main dangers are Famous Enough, who brings recent all-weather consistency and first-time headgear, and Queen Leila, who showed improvement to win last time and also tries headgear off a surface she handles.
KTB Selection Never Mind Me
This is the narrative read of the 4:00 Dundalk. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Dundalk racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why is the race expected to be tactical?
The pace shape lacks a leader with medium confidence, so it is likely to be a steadily-run affair where being handy pays.
Which horses are trying first-time headgear?
Famous Enough, Queen Leila, Angel Of Promise, Beau Army, Six Wings, Polanco, Misava, Cause I Like You, Tenacious, Due In June, Master Garvey and Rampage are all fitted with first-time headgear.
Who has the strongest trainer record at Dundalk?
Never Mind Me's trainer has a 22% strike rate at Dundalk with an A/E of 2.35 from 18 runs.
Which principals are usually held up?
Famous Enough, Queen Leila and Angel Of Promise are usually held up, while Never Mind Me and Bullet Bourbon typically settle in midfield.
How many runners are unproven on standard ground?
Six Wings, Polanco, Misava and Due In June have no runs on standard ground.
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