5:25 Naas
This 5:25 Naas fillies handicap over 1m2f149y on soft ground brings together an 11-runner field where official ratings range from 63 to 86. The KTB Fit scores point to a competitive but not overly deep race, with the top two principals holding a clear edge on the numbers while the remainder cluster closely together. Overall the KTB assessments highlight course knowledge, trip suitability and soft-ground experience as the main separators in a race that looks likely to place a premium on those attributes.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is a lone leader with high confidence, meaning one horse is expected to secure an uncontested lead with little pressure from the rest of the field. Most principals and field runners are held-up types who produce their effort late, which sets up a scenario where the front-runner could prove difficult for closers to reel in on this soft surface. The key question is whether any of the patient runners can generate enough momentum from off the pace to bridge the gap to a clear leader in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Apercu KTB Selection62/100
Apercu is a fair sort who knows this track well having won here on his only previous visit. He possesses solid soft-ground form with a win and two places from three starts and has won three times at today's trip. The yard holds a respectable record at Naas though the jockey's strike-rate here is modest. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is drawn in stall six and arrives with recent form figures of 802700 from an official rating of 85. As the KTB selection he brings the strongest combination of course familiarity, trip proficiency and proven ability on the going.
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2Vanir52/100
Vanir is a fair performer who has shown a mixed bag of form this year with a win and two placed efforts among his six runs. He drops back in trip today having last run over 1m5f and that distance change asks a fresh question. Trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates at Naas. Usually held up and producing his effort late from stall five, he carries an official rating of 86 with recent form figures of 821382. Unproven on soft ground, he remains a solid contender on his best efforts but faces a question of both trip and surface.
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3Speckled Meadow51/100
Speckled Meadow is a modest performer who has won once at this track from three runs and also has a win at today's trip from four attempts. He has recorded one win and two places from five runs on soft ground. The trainer has a strong 20% strike rate at Naas but the jockey is still seeking a first winner from 17 rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late from stall seven, he carries an official rating of 63 with recent form figures of 865696. At nine years old he brings course-winning experience and proven soft-ground ability even if his overall level remains modest.
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4Navy Waters51/100
Navy Waters is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately and drops back in trip from 1m5f to a distance at which he has already scored once from two attempts. Placed once from three starts on soft ground so should handle the conditions but makes his first appearance at Naas from stall 11. Trainer and jockey both sit on 7% strike rates here from large samples. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he carries an official rating of 84 with recent form figures of 453306. His consistency and trip suitability keep him in the mix despite the wide draw and lack of course form.
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5Stars Will Shine50/100
Stars Will Shine is a fair 3-year-old who has shown flashes of ability but has been well beaten on his last three starts after winning on debut. He steps up markedly in trip today from 7f, which asks a fresh question of him on pedigree and given his recent form. The yard and jockey both have solid records at Naas. Usually held up and producing his effort late from stall ten, he carries an official rating of 78 with recent form figures of 15-909. Unproven on soft ground, his potential rests on whether the longer trip can unlock further improvement.
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6Queen Of The Bogs49/100
Queen Of The Bogs is a fair performer who has shown some placed form this year but has been hit and miss overall. The trainer's record at Naas is modest while the jockey has a solid 10% strike rate here from a large sample. She steps up in trip today for the first time and the going remains an unknown with so few runs on the board. Front-running style from stall eight could see her take the uncontested lead.
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7Morgana Blue49/100
Morgana Blue is a fair performer who showed steady improvement last season, finishing with a win over 1m. She steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question of her. Trainer operates at a 4% strike rate from 71 runs at Naas while the jockey fares better with a 9% strike rate from 128 rides here. First-time headgear is now applied and she remains unproven on soft ground.
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8Ankara49/100
Ankara is a fair performer who has shown some spark in recent starts, finishing third in two of his last three runs. He drops back in trip to an untried 1m2f today which asks a fresh question. The yard has a solid 12% strike-rate at Naas from a big sample but the claiming jockey is still seeking a first win from ten rides here. Usually held up, he has limited soft-ground form.
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9Cherry Hill Girl48/100
Cherry Hill Girl is a fair performer who has shown consistent but limited ability in recent starts without landing a blow. She has already tried soft ground without success and was well held on her only previous run at this track. Stepping up in trip for the first time poses a fresh question while the trainer's modest record here adds little encouragement. Usually held up from a low draw.
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10Letiza47/100
Letiza is a fair sort who won last time out and has a solid recent record of 0-2441. She drops back in trip to a distance at which she has already won once from seven attempts, though she is unproven on soft ground. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Naas and the horse herself has shown little here in two previous runs. Usually held up from stall one.
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11Fratas44/100
Fratas is a fair performer who has been out of form this year with three modest efforts from his last three starts. He has no win or place from two runs at Naas and has failed to place in six runs on soft ground. Dropping back from 1m4f to a trip where he has placed once before is the main positive in an otherwise exposed profile. Usually held up from stall three.
KTB verdict
Apercu stands out as the KTB selection. He brings proven course-winning form from his only visit to Naas, a strong record on soft ground and three previous wins at this trip, all of which align well with the expected uncontested lead and testing conditions. His held-up style should allow him to deliver his effort at the right time against a field where many others have questions to answer on trip, ground or course. The main dangers are likely to come from Vanir, who has shown placed form this season and could improve back at this distance, and Speckled Meadow, who boasts course and soft-ground success even if his overall level is more modest. Navy Waters and Stars Will Shine round out the principals with each carrying their own trip and surface queries.
KTB Selection Apercu
This is the narrative read of the 5:25 Naas. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Naas racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Naas results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Naas racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won at Naas previously?
Apercu has won here on his only previous visit and Speckled Meadow has also won at the track from three runs.
How many horses are unproven on soft ground?
Four horses have no runs on soft: Vanir, Queen Of The Bogs, Morgana Blue and Letiza. Stars Will Shine is also unproven.
Which runner is expected to take the uncontested lead?
Queen Of The Bogs is the only front-runner in the field and the pace shape indicates a lone leader with high confidence.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Naas?
Colin Keane has a 17% strike rate at Naas from 763 rides while the trainer Noel Meade has a 13% strike rate from 1189 runs.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear?
Morgana Blue is fitted with first-time headgear.
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