5:23 Cork
A 14-runner 3-year-old handicap over 1m on good ground at Cork provides a competitive but largely modest contest. The KTB Fit scores reflect a field without any standout performers, with the top-rated horse only reaching 54 and several others clustered in the mid-40s, underlining the ordinary level of ability on show. Trainer and jockey records at the track are generally modest across the board, and with limited course form and several going queries, the race looks open despite the small number of previous winners.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape suggests a fairly even gallop with no obvious front-runners dominating, though several horses have shown a preference for racing prominently or in mid-division. Avec Grand Plaisir and Clonbun are likely to be forward, while the likes of Stella Amorosa and Cisterna may settle in mid-pack. The key question is whether the race will be decided from off the pace or if those racing prominently can maintain their advantage around this track, particularly from the lower draws.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Avec Grand Plaisir KTB Selection54/100Modest performer who has shown little in three starts to date and was beaten 13 lengths on handicap debut last time.
- 2Stella Amorosa50/100Modest performer who has failed to build on an encouraging handicap debut last summer and was well held on return at Navan last month.
- 3Clonbun50/100Modest performer who showed a bit more when winning a handicap at this trip last time.
- 4Cisterna47/100Modest performer who has run to a similar level all year.
- 5Zheleznaya Dama47/100Modest performer who has shown very little in five starts to date and was beaten over 11 lengths when last seen in a handicap at Dundalk.
- 6Chirac47/100Modest performer who has shown little consistency, winning a weak claimer last time but finishing well beaten in a handicap the run before.
- 7Hambelton46/100Modest performer who has shown nothing better than fair form in three runs this year and was beaten over five lengths when fourth over this trip at Cork on his…
- 8No More Hiding46/100Modest performer who has shown little in five runs to date and was well held in two starts this year.
- 9Bear Right42/100Modest performer who has shown little for a while and was beaten over 7l when seventh over this trip here last time.
- 10Cameclose42/100Limited performer who has shown little in five starts and now tries first-time headgear.
- 11Push Harder36/100Limited performer who has shown little spark in six starts to date and was well held on return at this track last month.
- 12Ochtar Againn36/100Limited performer who has shown very little in five starts and looks up against it from stall 12.
- 13Schoolyard Days34/100Limited horse who has shown very little in five runs to date and was well beaten on his most recent start.
- 14Cause I Like You30/100Limited performer who has shown little spark in ten runs this year and arrives here with a string of modest efforts.
The contenders
Avec Grand Plaisir KTB Fit 54/100
Avec Grand Plaisir is a modest performer who has shown little in three starts to date and was beaten 13 lengths on handicap debut last time. He drops back to 1m having failed to make an impression over that trip on debut. The trainer has a 9% strike rate at Cork from 112 runs while the jockey is operating at 6% from 148 rides here. With a KTB Fit of 54 he tops the ratings in a modest field and is the selection. His unproven status on good ground and lack of course form add to the unknowns but he is taken to come out on top.
Stella Amorosa KTB Fit 50/100
Stella Amorosa is a modest performer who has failed to build on an encouraging handicap debut last summer and was well held on return at Navan last month. First-time headgear is now fitted as she steps up to 1m for the first time, a trip that asks a fresh question. The trainer and jockey both hold solid 15% strike rates at Cork, with their combined record reading 98/733 at 13% and an A/E of 0.88. She has been placed once from three runs on good ground but remains without a win. Her KTB Fit of 50 places her right in the mix in this ordinary handicap.
Clonbun KTB Fit 50/100
Clonbun is a modest performer who showed a bit more when winning a handicap at this trip last time. He steps up from 7½f today having already scored once from four runs at a mile. The trainer and jockey both have modest records at Cork, the yard at 9% with an A/E of 0.65 and the rider at 6% with an A/E of 0.46, though their overall partnership stands at 200/1495 for 13%. He has been placed once from one run on good ground. With a KTB Fit of 50 he enters the conversation as one who has shown some recent spark.
Cisterna KTB Fit 47/100
Cisterna is a modest performer who has run to a similar level all year. He was placed on his only previous visit to Cork and showed his best form when winning over this trip on good ground earlier in the season. Stepping back up in distance from a recent 6.5f run, the yard and rider are both operating at a steady 8% strike rate here with respective A/E figures of 0.86 and 0.89. His record on good ground reads one win from five runs with another placed effort. Rated at a KTB Fit of 47 he remains a solid each-way contender on his handicap form.
Zheleznaya Dama KTB Fit 47/100
Zheleznaya Dama is a modest performer who has shown very little in five starts to date and was beaten over 11 lengths when last seen in a handicap at Dundalk. She steps up to 1m for the first time today which asks a fresh question of her. Brendan W Duke has a 7% strike rate from 41 runs at Cork while Gavin Ryan is 8% from 168 rides at the track, though their combined record stands at 0/24. She has been placed once from four runs on good ground but is without a win. Her KTB Fit of 47 keeps her in the mix among the principals despite a modest profile.
The rest of the field
ChiracKTB Fit 47/100
Chirac is a modest performer who has shown little consistency, winning a weak claimer last time but finishing well beaten in a handicap the run before. Drawn in stall 1 which could be an advantage on this track, though the trainer's modest record at Cork is matched by the horse's own limited impact here at the trip. His KTB Fit is 47.
HambeltonKTB Fit 46/100
Hambelton is a modest performer who has shown nothing better than fair form in three runs this year and was beaten over five lengths when fourth over this trip at Cork on his most recent start. The yard’s modest record here adds little confidence and nor does the jockey’s strike-rate at the track. Trip looks about right but he has yet to show he can win at this level. His KTB Fit is 46.
No More HidingKTB Fit 46/100
No More Hiding is a modest performer who has shown little in five runs to date and was well held in two starts this year. Has tried this trip three times without success and the small-sample going note leaves his effectiveness on good ground as an open question. Trainer strikes at 9% here while jockey is more positive at 15%. His KTB Fit is 46.
Bear RightKTB Fit 42/100
Bear Right is a modest performer who has shown little for a while and was beaten over 7l when seventh over this trip here last time. Has placed once in four starts at this distance but that was early in his career and he has failed to build on it. Trainer has a 10% strike rate at Cork from a big sample while the jockey is operating at 4%. His KTB Fit is 42.
CamecloseKTB Fit 42/100
Cameclose is a limited performer who has shown little in five starts and now tries first-time headgear. Dropping back to 1m after a poor effort over 1m3f last time raises a fresh question while the wide draw in stall 11 is no help. Trainer has an 8% strike rate from 66 runs at Cork and jockey records 7% from 55 rides here. His KTB Fit is 42.
Push HarderKTB Fit 36/100
Push Harder is a limited performer who has shown little spark in six starts to date and was well held on return at this track last month. Has placed once over today's trip but that was in a weak maiden and the wide draw in stall 14 adds to the difficulties. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 5% strike rate here. His KTB Fit is 36.
Ochtar AgainnKTB Fit 36/100
Ochtar Againn is a limited performer who has shown very little in five starts and looks up against it from stall 12. The yard’s poor record at Cork offers no encouragement and neither does the jockey’s modest strike rate here. Dropping back to 1m poses a fresh question but the overall profile remains weak. His KTB Fit is 36.
Schoolyard DaysKTB Fit 34/100
Schoolyard Days is a limited horse who has shown very little in five runs to date and was well beaten on his most recent start. Trainer has a poor record at Cork while the jockey fares better but is still operating below expectations here. Steps up to 1m for the first time today with only one previous try at the distance. His KTB Fit is 34.
Cause I Like YouKTB Fit 30/100
Cause I Like You is a limited performer who has shown little spark in ten runs this year and arrives here with a string of modest efforts. First time at Cork and unproven on good ground add unknowns while the trainer and jockey both sit on a 5% strike rate at the track. Trip looks about right but overall profile is weak. His KTB Fit is 30.
KTB verdict
Avec Grand Plaisir tops the KTB Fit ratings at 54 in a race where the general level is modest and few have strong recent claims. His selection is based on being ahead of a field that includes several with regressive or inconsistent profiles, even if his own form is limited. The main dangers are likely to come from Stella Amorosa with the first-time headgear and the recent winner Clonbun, while Cisterna brings some course placings and a previous win over the trip on good ground. Zheleznaya Dama cannot be entirely dismissed at her best but would need to improve markedly.
KTB Selection Avec Grand Plaisir
This is the narrative read of the 5:23 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 horse has the highest KTB Fit Score and what is it?
Avec Grand Plaisir has the highest KTB Fit Score at 54/100.
How many horses are unproven on good ground?
Five horses have no runs on good ground: Avec Grand Plaisir, Chirac, Hambelton, No More Hiding and Ochtar Againn, plus Cause I Like You.
Which trainers have the strongest strike rates at Cork in this field?
Noel Meade and Colin Keane both have 15% strike rates at Cork, while Mrs John Harrington has 10%.
Which horse has course form at Cork?
Cisterna has one run at Cork finishing second, Hambelton has one run finishing fourth, and Bear Right has one run finishing seventh.
How many principals are stepping up in trip or trying 1m for the first time?
Stella Amorosa, Zheleznaya Dama, Schoolyard Days and Cameclose are all stepping up to 1m or trying the trip for the first time.
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