5:25 Leopardstown
The 5:25 at Leopardstown is a 7f50y Boyle Sports 'Pick Your Place' Handicap for a field of ten on good to firm ground. It features a mix of three-year-olds and one promising juvenile, with recent maiden winners and consistent performers lining up. The KTB numbers point to a competitive race where Zenford holds the highest Fit Score at 55, ahead of a cluster around the 50 mark, underlining the value of his course-and-distance placing and latest success.
How the race shapes up
With several runners likely to be forward or prominent, including the draw-one Zenford, the pace shape suggests an even gallop that could quicken inside the final two furlongs. Time Bender and Dawn Romance are expected to come from off the pace, while Venetian Star and Watch Tower should settle in mid-division. The key question is whether the unproven good-to-firm ground will expose any vulnerabilities among those stepping up or returning from breaks, particularly with the rail draw potentially offering an advantage in a race where positioning will matter.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Zenford KTB Selection55/100Fair performer who has shown consistent form this year with three placings from his first four starts before landing a 7f maiden last time.
- 2Invincible Will50/100Invincible Will is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip from six attempts.
- 3Time Bender50/100Time Bender is a fair 2-year-old who showed useful early promise by winning here over this trip on debut before finishing sixth in stronger company.
- 4Dawn Romance48/100Fair performer who showed useful early promise when winning on debut last season but has been largely disappointing since.
- 5Venetian Star44/100Modest performer with a solid recent record of two placed efforts in his last five starts including at this trip.
- 6Mighty Danu44/100Fair performer who showed useful promise when winning over this trip on debut before a lesser effort in a stronger race.
- 7Caitouna44/100Modest performer who showed improved form when winning a 7f maiden last time.
- 8Watch Tower40/100Modest performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning.
- 9Dark Leader39/100Dark Leader has shown fair form in three starts, finishing placed when last seen over this trip.
- 10Chapel Lane38/100Modest performer who has shown little spark in two starts this season.
The contenders
Zenford KTB Fit 55/100
Zenford arrives as a fair performer who has shown consistent form this year with three placings from his first four starts before landing a 7f maiden last time. He has already been placed over course and distance on his only visit to Leopardstown and stays this trip well. The trainer has a 9% strike rate at the track from 440 runs with an A/E of 0.76, while the jockey operates at 7% from 366 rides with an A/E of 0.68. Both trainer and jockey therefore bring modest records here. He remains unproven on good to firm ground but his recent form figures of 3-3321 and 55 KTB Fit score mark him out as the one to beat from stall one.
Invincible Will KTB Fit 50/100
Invincible Will is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip from six attempts. He has run only once at Leopardstown and finished well beaten, while the yard's modest 6% strike rate from 440 runs here offers little encouragement. The 3lb claimer is also winless from 56 rides at the track and the horse remains unproven on good to firm ground. His recent form of 0-2818 reflects ability but the 50 KTB Fit score and 4% trainer-jockey combination at the venue suggest he will need to improve on his sole track effort to figure prominently from draw four.
Time Bender KTB Fit 50/100
Time Bender is a fair 2-year-old who showed useful early promise by winning here over this trip on debut before finishing sixth in stronger company. He returns from a break having already beaten some of today's opposition at Leopardstown, though the trainer's modest 3% strike rate from 62 runs at the track is a negative. The jockey has a solid 7% record here from 102 rides with an A/E of 0.89 and the drop back from a mile looks suitable given his prior win at this distance. With form figures of 166- and a 50 KTB Fit, his course success and juvenile allowance make him an interesting contender from a wide draw of nine.
Dawn Romance KTB Fit 48/100
Dawn Romance is a fair performer who showed useful early promise when winning on debut last season but has been largely disappointing since. He steps up in trip for the first time today while wearing first-time headgear. The trainer and jockey both operate at an 8% strike rate here, the former from 164 runs with an A/E of 0.73 and the latter from 105 rides with an A/E of 0.9. Unproven on good to firm and with no course form on record, his recent efforts of 210-60 leave him with a 48 KTB Fit score and questions to answer from stall six.
Venetian Star KTB Fit 44/100
Venetian Star is a modest performer with a solid recent record of two placed efforts in his last five starts including at this trip. This is his first run at Leopardstown and he remains unproven on good to firm ground, both of which add unknowns. The yard has a modest 8% strike rate here from 26 runs with an A/E of 0.85, though the jockey has a respectable 10% record at the track from 163 rides with an A/E of 1.17. His form of -43302 and 44 KTB Fit suggest he can be competitive at this level but will need to overcome the lack of course experience from draw three.
The rest of the field
Mighty DanuKTB Fit 44/100
Mighty Danu is a fair performer who showed useful promise when winning over this trip on debut before a lesser effort in a stronger race. Dropping back from a mile should suit having already scored at this distance from just two attempts. The trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates here while the horse was well held on its only previous run at Leopardstown, leaving him with a 44 KTB Fit from stall two.
CaitounaKTB Fit 44/100
Caitouna is a modest performer who showed improved form when winning a 7f maiden last time. She has already run well over this course and trip when fifth on debut and the booking of Browne McMonagle is a positive given his solid 13% strike rate here from 271 rides. Trainer Flynn has a modest record at Leopardstown though and she remains relatively lightly raced overall, with a 44 KTB Fit from the widest draw of ten.
Watch TowerKTB Fit 40/100
Watch Tower is a modest performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning. He has course connections through the yard and jockey who both operate at a steady level here, though neither sets the track alight. Recent efforts of 4522-4 suggest he is competitive at this level but needs to improve to win, carrying a 40 KTB Fit from draw five.
Dark LeaderKTB Fit 39/100
Dark Leader has shown fair form in three starts, finishing placed when last seen over this trip. He drops back from a mile and that looks a sensible move though he is not fully exposed. The yard's modest record here is a negative while the jockey has a better strike-rate at the track, resulting in a 39 KTB Fit from stall eight.
Chapel LaneKTB Fit 38/100
Chapel Lane is a modest performer who has shown little spark in two starts this season. Dropping back from a mile to 7f poses a fresh question while the Leopardstown run last year was ordinary. Trainer and jockey both operate at a modest level here with strike rates of 7% and 8% respectively, giving him a 38 KTB Fit from draw seven.
KTB verdict
Zenford stands out as the KTB Selection with his 55 Fit Score, course-and-distance placing and progressive recent form that culminated in a 7f maiden win. He has already shown he handles Leopardstown and his stamina for the trip is assured, even if good to firm remains unproven. The main dangers are likely to come from Time Bender, whose course win on debut and drop back in trip give him a solid profile despite the trainer's modest track record, and Venetian Star, who brings placed form at the distance and a more positive jockey statistic at the venue. Invincible Will and Caitouna cannot be entirely dismissed if the race sets up for a strong-finishing type.
KTB Selection Zenford
This is the narrative read of the 5:25 Leopardstown. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Leopardstown racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course-and-distance experience at Leopardstown?
Zenford has been placed over course and distance on his only visit to Leopardstown. Time Bender won here over this trip on debut and has run well over the course and trip. Caitouna has run well over this course and trip when fifth on debut.
How many of these runners are unproven on good to firm ground?
All ten runners have no runs on good to firm and are therefore unproven on the ground.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Leopardstown among those represented?
G M Lyons has an 11% strike rate at Leopardstown from 1166 runs. The next best is the 9% for J P Murtagh and M D O'Callaghan.
Which jockey has the best strike rate at the track in this field?
Colin Keane has a 14% strike rate at Leopardstown from 871 rides. Dylan Browne McMonagle is next with 13% from 271 rides.
Who is the only two-year-old in the race and what is its course record?
Time Bender is the only two-year-old. It has won once from two runs at Leopardstown.
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. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies