5:00 Cork
This 21-runner Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Hurdle over 2m2f at Cork on good ground looks a competitive affair with a strong pace anticipated. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Jupiter Du Gite on 59, with four others within four points, indicating a race where class, trip suitability and the first-time headgear applied to several runners could prove decisive. Recent form is mixed across the field, with several runners stepping up or down in trip while others make their first appearance at the track or on the surface.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners and a strong pace likely, the race is expected to be run at a searching gallop that could cause problems for those up with the pace late on. Jupiter Du Gite and Boola Times are both inclined to make the running or race prominently, setting up a contest that should favour the hold-up performers such as Crowsatedappletart, Miners Bridge and O'Grady Cracker. The key question is whether the prominent runners can withstand the pressure or if the race will collapse late, allowing the patient riders to strike.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Jupiter Du Gite KTB Selection59/100Smart performer who ran well when second on return last time and has the ability to go close again if the first-time headgear helps him settle.
- 2Crowsatedappletart57/100Useful performer who won over 2m here last time and has placed twice at today's longer trip without winning.
- 3Miners Bridge56/100Smart performer who has shown consistent ability in stronger company and arrives with solid ratings backing.
- 4O'Grady Cracker56/100Useful performer who got off the mark over hurdles at this track last time and looks well treated on that form.
- 5Boola Times55/100Useful performer who has shown enough in recent runs to suggest he can be competitive here.
- 6Palace Boy52/100Smart performer who arrives with solid ratings and a history of competitive runs.
- 7Inthenickoftime52/100Useful performer who has shown consistent form in recent seasons and has won at today's trip.
- 8L'As de Watt52/100Useful performer who showed promise when second here over hurdles last season.
- 9Diamond Tipp49/100Diamond Tipp is a useful performer on his day but has been inconsistent of late and failed to complete in three of his last five starts.
- 10Scathach48/100Fair performer who has shown consistent placed form without winning.
- 11Champagne Dawn47/100Useful performer who has won once from two starts at Cork.
- 12Calzaghi47/100Useful performer who has been out of form this season with three poor runs from his last three starts.
- 13Alentejo47/100Alentejo is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has shown very little in three starts this year.
- 14Earl Neigh47/100Useful performer on his day but has failed to complete the course or finish in the first five on his last two starts.
- 15Ballyminnion Boy47/100Fair performer who has shown very little in three starts since returning from a long absence, finishing well beaten on his latest outing here over a similar tri…
- 16Folly Beach46/100Useful performer who has shown enough at this track to finish second here on his only visit.
- 17Dictionary Corner45/100Useful performer who has failed to complete in three of his six starts and showed only modest form when completing.
- 18Certamen44/100Useful performer on the balance of his ratings who has been below form in two runs this year.
- 19King Ferdinand43/100Useful performer who has placed here without winning in six runs at Cork.
- 20Katherine43/100Katherine is a useful performer on her day but has been out of form for some time and finished no better than sixth on her last four starts.
- 21Imperial Miss41/100Useful performer on her day but has been out of form for some time and failed to complete last time.
The contenders
Jupiter Du Gite KTB Fit 59/100
Jupiter Du Gite is a smart performer who ran well when second on return last time and has the ability to go close again if the first-time headgear helps him settle. He tends to make the running or race on the pace and will be right up there from the start in a race where the pace looks strong. Drops back in trip to an untried 2m2f which asks a fresh question while he remains unproven on good ground. The trainer has a 7% strike rate from 231 runs at Cork. Recent form figures read 3046-2.
Crowsatedappletart KTB Fit 57/100
Crowsatedappletart is a useful performer who won over 2m here last time and has placed twice at today's longer trip without winning. Usually held up and produces its effort late, this horse should be suited by the strong pace that is likely. Four wins from 15 runs on good ground is a solid record though the step up from 2m asks a fresh question. First-time headgear is another unknown while the trainer has no recorded runs at Cork. The horse has won here once from seven starts at the track.
Miners Bridge KTB Fit 56/100
Miners Bridge is a smart performer who has shown consistent ability in stronger company and arrives with solid ratings backing. Usually held up and produces its effort late, he should be well suited by the strong pace expected here. Only one run at Cork resulted in a modest fifth and the yard's modest 6% strike-rate here offers little encouragement. Steps up in trip for the first time today which remains an unknown. The trainer and jockey combination shows a 9% strike rate from 274 runs with an A/E of 0.89.
O'Grady Cracker KTB Fit 56/100
O'Grady Cracker is a useful performer who got off the mark over hurdles at this track last time and looks well treated on that form. Usually held up and produces its effort late with high confidence, he will be coming from off the pace in a race set to be strongly run. Drops back in trip today having failed to land a blow over 2m3f on his previous start. First-time headgear is an interesting addition for a yard with a modest 8% strike-rate at Cork. The jockey has an 11% strike rate at the track from 199 rides with an A/E of 1.06.
Boola Times KTB Fit 55/100
Boola Times is a useful performer who has shown enough in recent runs to suggest he can be competitive here. Tends to make the running or race on the pace and will be prominent early in what is likely to be a strong gallop. Steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question while the first-time headgear is another unknown. Trainer's 6% strike rate at Cork from 71 runs is modest though the A/E of 0.94 offers some encouragement. The jockey has a 13% strike rate at the track from 16 rides with an A/E of 1.64.
The rest of the field
Palace BoyKTB Fit 52/100
Palace Boy is a smart performer who arrives with solid ratings and a history of competitive runs. First time headgear is now fitted after a poor return from a break while the step up to 2m2f asks a fresh question. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate at Cork from 48 runs.
InthenickoftimeKTB Fit 52/100
Inthenickoftime is a useful performer who has shown consistent form in recent seasons and has won at today's trip. He has run respectably without winning at Cork and is competitive on good ground, though he failed to complete last time out. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate at the track suggests this one will need to be at his best to take advantage of the drop back in distance.
L'As de WattKTB Fit 52/100
L'As de Watt is a useful performer who showed promise when second here over hurdles last season. Has been off the track since a modest run at Limerick in December and now drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried. Trainer's modest 8% strike rate at Cork from a big sample suggests this is no banker for the yard.
Diamond TippKTB Fit 49/100
Diamond Tipp is a useful performer on his day but has been inconsistent of late and failed to complete in three of his last five starts. He has shown some course form here without winning and handles good ground, recording a win and four places from eight attempts. Dropping back to a trip he has won over is a positive but the first-time headgear suggests connections are looking for improvement.
ScathachKTB Fit 48/100
Scathach is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form without winning. Drops back in trip today having been placed once in four runs at this distance. Trainer has a solid 11% strike rate from 107 runs at Cork.
Champagne DawnKTB Fit 47/100
Champagne Dawn is a useful performer who has won once from two starts at Cork. Steps up in trip today having won at this distance on his only previous attempt though he is 0-3 on good ground. Trainer's modest 5% strike-rate at the track is a negative.
CalzaghiKTB Fit 47/100
Calzaghi is a useful performer who has been out of form this season with three poor runs from his last three starts. Drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried while making his first appearance at Cork. Trainer's modest 6% strike-rate at the track from a large sample suggests this is no banker for the yard.
AlentejoKTB Fit 47/100
Alentejo is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has shown very little in three starts this year. He was well beaten on his only previous visit to Cork and now steps up in trip for the first time in first-time headgear. The trainer’s modest 7% strike rate at the track offers no particular encouragement.
Earl NeighKTB Fit 47/100
Earl Neigh is a useful performer on his day but has failed to complete the course or finish in the first five on his last two starts. He has shown some ability in two runs at Cork without threatening to win and now drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried. First-time headgear is an unknown on a horse whose overall profile lacks real conviction.
Ballyminnion BoyKTB Fit 47/100
Ballyminnion Boy is a fair performer who has shown very little in three starts since returning from a long absence, finishing well beaten on his latest outing here over a similar trip. The step back up in distance is an unknown at this stage. Trainer has a modest 5% strike rate at Cork from 119 runs.
Folly BeachKTB Fit 46/100
Folly Beach is a useful performer who has shown enough at this track to finish second here on his only visit. Steps up in trip today having last run over 1m7f and with only one previous try at this distance which brought no success. Trainer is operating at a 0% strike rate from 26 runs at Cork while the jockey has no recorded figures at the track.
Dictionary CornerKTB Fit 45/100
Dictionary Corner is a useful performer who has failed to complete in three of his six starts and showed only modest form when completing. He has been beaten a long way on all three Cork runs and the yard's modest 5% strike-rate here adds little encouragement. Stepping up in trip is a fresh question today.
CertamenKTB Fit 44/100
Certamen is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings who has been below form in two runs this year. Steps up in trip today having shown little over shorter, and the first-time headgear is an unknown. Trainer is 0-5 at Cork.
King FerdinandKTB Fit 43/100
King Ferdinand is a useful performer who has placed here without winning in six runs at Cork. Drops back in trip today having been placed once in three starts at this distance and looks competitive on good ground where he has shown similar form. First-time headgear is now applied while the trainer's modest 4% strike rate at the track continues a long-term pattern.
KatherineKTB Fit 43/100
Katherine is a useful performer on her day but has been out of form for some time and finished no better than sixth on her last four starts. She has only run once at Cork and the yard's record here is poor at 0-28. First-time headgear is now tried as she steps up in trip having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance.
Imperial MissKTB Fit 41/100
Imperial Miss is a useful performer on her day but has been out of form for some time and failed to complete last time. She steps up in trip with first-time headgear and has no form on good ground from three attempts. The trainer's modest record at Cork adds little encouragement.
KTB verdict
Jupiter Du Gite is the KTB Selection. A smart performer, he ran well when second on return last time and has the ability to go close again if the first-time headgear helps him settle, with his prominent run-style likely to see him set or share a strong pace. The drop back in trip and unproven status on good ground pose questions, but his overall class stands out. Main dangers are Crowsatedappletart, who won over 2m here last time and is well suited to a strong pace from the rear, and O'Grady Cracker, who got off the mark over hurdles at this track last time and looks well treated. Miners Bridge and Boola Times are others who can feature if the race shape unfolds as expected.
KTB Selection Jupiter Du Gite
This is the narrative read of the 5:00 Cork. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cork racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are wearing first-time headgear?
Jupiter Du Gite, Crowsatedappletart, O'Grady Cracker, Boola Times, Palace Boy, Diamond Tipp, Earl Neigh, Certamen, King Ferdinand, Katherine and Imperial Miss are all fitted with first-time headgear.
How many horses in the field are unproven on good ground?
Jupiter Du Gite, L'As de Watt, Alentejo, Earl Neigh, Ballyminnion Boy, Dictionary Corner, Certamen and Imperial Miss have no form or limited exposure on good ground.
Which runners have previous winning form at Cork?
Crowsatedappletart has won here once from seven starts, and Champagne Dawn has won once from two starts at the track.
Who are the front-runners in this race?
Jupiter Du Gite and Boola Times both tend to make the running or race on the pace.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Cork among those represented?
Ross O'Sullivan has an 11% strike rate at Cork from 107 runs, the highest among the trainers in this field.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Help and support: BeGambleAware.org and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies