5:00 Naas
This 18-runner apprentice handicap at Naas over 1m3f on good ground looks a competitive and open affair in which the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched. The top five are separated by only five points, underlining how little separates many of these modest performers on paper. With the KTB Selection Glittering Gem heading the ratings on 56, the race revolves around whether his recent placed form can be translated into a first win in what shapes as a steadily-run, tactical contest.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. Most of the field, including all five principals, are held-up types who produce their effort late, so the key question is whether the race will develop enough pace for those coming from off the pace to make ground in the straight or whether those who can get a more prominent position will hold sway. With so many runners wanting to come late, the ability to quicken off a steady gallop will be at a premium.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Glittering Gem KTB Selection56/100Modest performer who has shown some consistency this year with placed efforts on his last three starts.
- 2Showyoutheropes54/100Modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 3Signor Ferrari53/100Modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning often.
- 4Millhone52/100Limited sort who has shown some ability on his last two starts, finishing second both times including over this trip.
- 5Parish Team51/100Modest performer who has shown very little in three starts to date, finishing eighth or worse each time.
- 6Eastern Peace49/100Modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning often.
- 7Derry Lad47/100Modest performer who has been placed a few times at this track without winning.
- 8Sinbad My Dad43/100Modest performer who has been consistent enough without winning for a while and looks vulnerable again from a low draw.
- 9Wie Wunderbar42/100Modest 3-year-old making a belated debut for a yard that operates at a 9% strike rate at Naas from a large sample.
- 10God Knows41/100Modest performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts since a runner-up finish earlier this year.
- 11Amavasya40/100Modest performer with a patchy recent record that includes one win from its last five starts.
- 12Maralinga39/100Modest performer whose recent form has been poor.
- 13God Of Thunder39/100God Of Thunder is a limited performer who has been out of the frame on all six starts this year and looks up against it from a wide draw.
- 14Covert Legend38/100Modest performer who has shown little spark on his last three starts and finished well beaten on his only previous visit to Naas.
- 15Yquem37/100Limited performer who has shown bits of ability but lacks real depth.
- 16Tero d'Rosa35/100Modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning often.
- 17Miss Ivor34/100Miss Ivor has shown very little in six runs, finishing no closer than eighth and recording a string of poor efforts that match her limited level.
- 18Walls Cross32/100Limited performer who has shown very little in four starts to date.
The contenders
Glittering Gem KTB Fit 56/100
Glittering Gem is a modest performer who has shown some consistency this year with placed efforts on his last three starts. He drops back in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on his only attempt. The 4-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Trainer D K Weld has a 12% strike rate at Naas from 1284 runs while jockey Sam Coen has a 12% strike rate at the track from 17 rides, though the trainer-jockey combination reads 1-13 with an A/E of 0.62. He has had only one run on good ground without placing and has no course form on record.
Showyoutheropes KTB Fit 54/100
Showyoutheropes is a modest performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He drops back in trip having been placed without winning at this distance before and has shown some ability on good ground. Usually held up and producing his effort late, the 4-year-old makes his first start at Naas. Trainer Gerard O'Leary has a solid 12% strike rate at the track from 100 runs though jockey Danny O'Leary has a 0% strike rate from one ride here.
Signor Ferrari KTB Fit 53/100
Signor Ferrari is a modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning often. He steps up in trip today having already won twice at this distance from five attempts, which looks a positive on his good-ground record of two wins from four runs. Usually held up, the 5-year-old showed little when seventh on his only previous start at Naas. Trainer P J F Murphy has an 11% strike rate at the track from 37 runs while the trainer-jockey combination with Conor Cusack reads 3-30 with an A/E of 1.04.
Millhone KTB Fit 52/100
Millhone is a limited sort who has shown some ability on his last two starts, finishing second both times including over this trip. The 3-year-old has already placed on this track and on good ground though he is now drawn wide in stall 13. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he represents trainer Charles Weld who has a 10% strike rate at Naas from a small sample of 10 runs. The trainer-jockey combination with Rory Mulligan reads 0-11.
Parish Team KTB Fit 51/100
Parish Team is a modest performer who has shown very little in three starts to date, finishing eighth or worse each time. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of a horse with only limited racecourse evidence. The 3-year-old is held up though with limited evidence on run-style. Trainer J S Bolger has a solid 13% strike rate at Naas from a huge sample of 1279 runs while jockey Nicola Burns has a 5% strike rate from 22 rides at the track. He has had one run on good ground without placing and has no course form.
The rest of the field
Eastern PeaceKTB Fit 49/100
Eastern Peace is a modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning often. He steps up in trip today having already won over this distance once from two attempts while he has shown he can be competitive on good ground. The trainer's modest record at Naas continues to limit expectations.
Derry LadKTB Fit 47/100
Derry Lad is a modest performer who has been placed a few times at this track without winning. He drops back in trip today having last run over 1m7f and holds a solid record at this distance with two wins from four starts. The trainer is still seeking a first Naas winner from 61 attempts.
Sinbad My DadKTB Fit 43/100
Sinbad My Dad is a modest performer who has been consistent enough without winning for a while and looks vulnerable again from a low draw. He has run twice at Naas without placing and the yard's poor 3% strike-rate here adds little confidence. He steps up in trip having been placed at this distance before though his record on good ground is only fair.
Wie WunderbarKTB Fit 42/100
Wie Wunderbar is a modest 3-year-old making a belated debut for a yard that operates at a 9% strike rate at Naas from a large sample. Recent form figures of 362 are modest and the wide draw in stall 14 is far from ideal over this trip. Pedigree and sales background offer the only real pointers here given the low data confidence.
God KnowsKTB Fit 41/100
God Knows is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts since a runner-up finish earlier this year. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 7f yet does have a win at this distance on his record and has shown he handles good ground. Course form is limited to a single ninth-place finish here.
AmavasyaKTB Fit 40/100
Amavasya is a modest performer with a patchy recent record that includes one win from its last five starts. He steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question while the yard's modest 2% strike rate from 133 runs at Naas is another negative. He goes well enough on good ground with one win and a placing from five runs.
MaralingaKTB Fit 39/100
Maralinga is a modest performer whose recent form has been poor. He drops back from 2m1f to a trip at which he has placed but never won, and he makes his first start at Naas today. The trainer has a 7% strike rate from 210 runs at the track.
God Of ThunderKTB Fit 39/100
God Of Thunder is a limited performer who has been out of the frame on all six starts this year and looks up against it from a wide draw. He has shown a bit of ability at this trip in the past but his sole run here was poor and the yard's modest record at Naas offers little encouragement.
Covert LegendKTB Fit 38/100
Covert Legend is a modest performer who has shown little spark on his last three starts and finished well beaten on his only previous visit to Naas. He steps up in trip today having been placed once at this distance without winning though he is 0-4 on good ground. The trainer has a 0% strike-rate from five runs at the track.
YquemKTB Fit 37/100
Yquem is a limited performer who has shown bits of ability but lacks real depth. He has been placed once from six starts on good ground and once from two at this trip though drops back from 1m4f today without a win to his name at any distance. The trainer operates at a 7% strike rate from 27 runs at Naas.
Tero d'RosaKTB Fit 35/100
Tero d'Rosa is a modest performer who has been largely consistent without winning often. He drops back in trip today having been placed both starts at this distance though he showed little on his three runs on good ground. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate from 219 runs at Naas.
Miss IvorKTB Fit 34/100
Miss Ivor has shown very little in six runs, finishing no closer than eighth and recording a string of poor efforts that match her limited level. She has been well beaten both starts at Naas and her trainer is still waiting for a first winner here from seven attempts. Stepping up markedly in trip is an unknown that could suit on pedigree but leaves her with plenty to prove.
Walls CrossKTB Fit 32/100
Walls Cross is a limited performer who has shown very little in four starts to date. The step up to 1m3f is an unknown that could suit on pedigree but the recent form figures offer no encouragement. The trainer holds a 7% strike rate at Naas from 210 runs.
KTB verdict
Glittering Gem is the KTB Selection. A modest performer, he has shown some consistency this year with placed efforts on his last three starts and drops back in trip having been placed without winning at this distance on his only attempt. The combination of recent form, the trainer's long record at Naas and a steadily-run race in which late efforts can be effective makes him the one to beat. Main dangers are Showyoutheropes, who has shown some ability on good ground and represents a yard in form at the track, and Signor Ferrari, who steps up in trip with a strong record at the distance and on good ground.
KTB Selection Glittering Gem
This is the narrative read of the 5:00 Naas. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Naas racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse steps up markedly in trip and represents a powerful yard at Naas?
Parish Team steps up markedly in trip today and trainer J S Bolger has a 13% strike rate at Naas from 1279 runs.
How many wins has Signor Ferrari recorded at this trip?
Signor Ferrari has already won twice at this distance from five attempts.
Which runner has course form at Naas including a second-place finish?
Millhone has run once here, finishing second.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Naas for the selection Glittering Gem?
Trainer D K Weld has a 12% strike rate at Naas from 1284 runs.
Which horse has a win over this distance but is trained by a yard with a 0% strike rate at Naas from 61 runs?
Derry Lad holds a solid record at this distance with two wins from four starts and the trainer is still seeking a first Naas winner from 61 attempts.
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