5:20 Leopardstown
This Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap over 1m 100y at Leopardstown brings together eight two-year-olds on good ground. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with King Christoph heading the list on 55, followed closely by Admired Beauty (53), City Of Gold (52) and Banks Of The Boyne (47). Several runners remain lightly raced or unproven on the surface, while the nursery weights add another layer of complexity in what looks an open affair.
How the race shapes up
With two confirmed front-runners in King Christoph and Banks Of The Boyne, a strong pace is anticipated and the confidence in that assessment is high. Several hold-up performers, including Admired Beauty, City Of Gold, Romayan, Margot Mae, Hypiradon and Snapequus, are likely to track the leaders before delivering their efforts in the straight. The key question is whether the pace will collapse in the latter stages, which would play into the hands of those racing from off the speed.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1King Christoph KTB Selection55/100
King Christoph has shown fair form in two runs and already has a win at this trip on his record. The yard and jockey both operate at a modest level around here with strike rates in single figures. Lightly raced so still has some potential to improve but not a lot of hard evidence yet. He tends to make the running or race on the pace and is drawn in stall five. The trainer has a 7% strike rate at Leopardstown from 206 runs while the jockey is on 8% from 192 rides. He is unproven on good ground having had no previous runs on the surface and has no course form on record.
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2Admired Beauty53/100
Admired Beauty is a fair 2-year-old who showed her best when winning over this trip last time. She has already handled the track and the trip well, though the small sample on good ground leaves that side untested. Bolger has a solid 14% strike rate here from a huge sample while Lee is operating at 8%. Usually held up and produces its effort late, she comes into this off the back of form figures that include a win. The trainer's record at the track stands at 14% from 3186 runs and the jockey is on 8% from 860 rides.
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3City Of Gold52/100
City Of Gold is a useful colt who has shown consistent form in three starts, finishing second twice including at this trip last time out. Aidan O'Brien's strong 20% strike rate at Leopardstown is a clear plus though the jockey's 8% record here is more modest. Trip looks suitable but the going remains an unknown with only three runs on the board. He is usually held up and produces its effort late. The trainer has a 20% strike rate at the track from 2999 runs while the jockey is on 8% from 1263 rides.
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4Banks Of The Boyne47/100
Banks Of The Boyne is a fair 2-year-old with a solid recent record of placed efforts and a win at this track from his only previous run here. He steps up in trip today having shown his best form over shorter, which asks a fresh question, while he has been competitive but winless on good ground from five starts. The trainer and jockey both operate at a 6% strike rate at Leopardstown. He tends to make the running or race on the pace and is drawn widest in stall eight. The yard has a 6% record at the venue from 185 runs and the jockey is also on 6% from 71 rides.
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5Romayan45/100
Romayan is a fair maiden who has shown steady but limited progress across three runs, finishing sixth of 13 last time. He has been beaten at this trip twice already and first-time headgear is now applied in a race where the yard and jockey both have modest strike rates at Leopardstown. The lightly-raced profile means his exact level remains open to improvement but the bare form gives him plenty to find.
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6Margot Mae44/100
Margot Mae is a modest filly who has shown mixed form across five runs and finished no better than third. She has placed once from two starts at Leopardstown and is drawn well in stall two, though she has yet to win at this trip. The trainer holds a 10 percent strike rate here from a large sample while the jockey is operating at 12 percent from 51 rides.
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7Hypiradon41/100
Hypiradon is a modest performer who has shown little in four starts, finishing no better than fourth on his latest outing. He was well held on his only previous run here and is now trying this trip for the first time. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 6% strike rate at Leopardstown from large samples.
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8Snapequus39/100
Snapequus is a modest performer who showed improved form when winning a 7f maiden last time. Steps up in trip today for a first-time headgear run, which asks a fresh question of him. Trainer has a solid 12% strike rate from 1089 runs at Leopardstown while the jockey's 11% from only 9 rides gives a small-sample A/E of 1.14.
KTB verdict
King Christoph is the KTB Selection. He brings fair form, a win at the trip already, and the ability to set the pace in a race where a strong gallop is expected, which could suit his style if the leaders fold late. His lightly-raced profile offers scope for further progress. The main dangers are Admired Beauty, who showed her best when winning over the trip last time and is well suited to a strong pace from off it, and City Of Gold, whose consistent form and powerful yard record at the track make him a serious threat despite the modest jockey strike rate here. Banks Of The Boyne cannot be ruled out either given his course win and proven ability to go forward.
KTB Selection King Christoph
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 17 Oct. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| King Christoph | 9/2 | Bet365 |
| Admired Beauty | 5/2 | BetTom |
| City Of Gold | 9/4 | Bet Victor |
| Banks Of The Boyne | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| Romayan | 12/1 | Bet365 |
| Margot Mae | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Hypiradon | 28/1 | Bet365 |
| Snapequus | 7/1 | Bet365 |
This is the narrative read of the 5:20 Leopardstown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Leopardstown racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Leopardstown results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Leopardstown racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which runners are likely to set the pace?
King Christoph and Banks Of The Boyne both tend to make the running or race on the pace.
How many horses are unproven on good ground?
King Christoph, Admired Beauty, City Of Gold, Romayan, Margot Mae, Hypiradon and Snapequus have limited or no winning form on good ground.
Which horse has course-and-distance winning form?
King Christoph already has a win at this trip on his record.
Who is stepping up in trip having shown best form over shorter?
Banks Of The Boyne steps up in trip today having shown his best form over shorter.
Which horses are wearing first-time headgear?
Romayan and Snapequus are both fitted with first-time headgear.
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