5:42 Down Royal
The 5:42 at Down Royal is a 5f handicap for modest performers, featuring a field of 12 where the KTB Fit ratings suggest a relatively even contest at a modest level overall. The top-rated horse on KTB numbers carries the first-time headgear and edges the figures, though several others bring recent consistency or course form to the table. With the ground unproven for every runner and the pace shape reading as tentative on limited evidence, the race looks open and dependent on how the early fractions unfold.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as tentative with low confidence, pointing to a possible front-runner but on thin evidence. Monastere tends to make the running or race prominently from stall one, while Spirit Above usually races handily or close to the lead. Most of the field are expected to be held up or race in mid-division, which poses the key question of whether an uncontested lead materialises or if the race will instead develop into a sprint finish from a compact mid-race pack.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Viamonte KTB Selection68/100Modest performer who has shown little spark in two starts this year after a lengthy break.
- 2Hot To Foxtrot54/100Limited horse who has shown just fair form at best and is now dropping back to 5f for the first time in a while after last running over 7f.
- 3Bye Bye Now54/100Modest performer who has shown some consistency this year with form figures of 44142.
- 4Spirit Of Eagles51/100Limited horse who has won once from ten starts over this course but is 0-12 for the trainer here.
- 5Practical Move51/100Practical Move is a limited performer on the balance of his six runs and recent form figures of 9650-9.
- 6Whatswrongnow50/100Limited horse who has shown little spark in 32 starts this year and arrives in ordinary form.
- 7Raven's Call47/100Raven's Call has shown little in three starts to date and looks limited on the balance of form.
- 8Dandy Land47/100Limited horse who has shown only modest form in six starts and was beaten over four lengths when third at this trip last time.
- 9Shamanka44/100Shamanka is a modest performer with a recent record of 530-04 that shows little spark.
- 10Spirit Above44/100Limited horse who has shown just fair form at best.
- 11Monastere42/100Limited performer who has shown a bit of spark on his better days but finished only fifth of six at this track last time.
- 12Snowballs42/100Limited performer who has shown very little spark this year and arrives in modest form.
The contenders
Viamonte KTB Fit 68/100
Viamonte is a modest performer who has shown little spark in two starts this year after a lengthy break. Placed once at this trip from 13 attempts but has never won over it and was well held on his only previous run here. First-time headgear is now applied while the trainer and jockey both have very limited course data to go on. The trainer has a 100% strike rate from one run at Down Royal overall and the jockey boasts a 50% strike rate here with an A/E of 4.43 from two rides. The selection comes from draw two and recent form figures of 370-04 with an official rating that places him in the mix on KTB's assessment.
Hot To Foxtrot KTB Fit 54/100
Hot To Foxtrot is a limited horse who has shown just fair form at best and is now dropping back to 5f for the first time in a while after last running over 7f. He has been placed once in three runs at this track and is 1 from 2 at the trip without winning, though he remains unproven on the current ground. First-time headgear is now applied. The trainer and jockey combination shows a solid 9/51 record with an A/E of 1.31 and positive LSP, while the yard posts a 14% strike rate at Down Royal from 49 runs and the jockey records 16% from 128 rides here. Recent form of 0-5436 and a placed effort at the course add some depth to his profile.
Bye Bye Now KTB Fit 54/100
Bye Bye Now is a modest performer who has shown some consistency this year with form figures of 44142. Has won at this trip from five attempts and holds strong course connections through the trainer. Both trainer and jockey have modest 7% strike rates at Down Royal from decent-sized samples, the yard from 305 runs and the rider from 14. The four-year-old arrives in decent nick on recent evidence and steps out from draw eight with the 5lb claimer Paddy Harnett aboard. Unproven on the ground but the consistency and trip suitability keep him firmly in the picture.
Spirit Of Eagles KTB Fit 51/100
Spirit Of Eagles is a limited horse who has won once from ten starts over this course but is 0-12 for the trainer here. Drops back to 5f having won at the trip in the past though his recent form is patchy and he has never raced on this ground. First-time headgear is now tried. The trainer has a 0% strike rate at Down Royal from 12 runs, though the 5lb claimer Sam Coen brings a 15% strike rate and A/E of 1.15 from 13 rides at the track. Form of 003138 shows flashes but also inconsistency, and the wide draw of 11 adds another layer to the assignment.
Practical Move KTB Fit 51/100
Practical Move is a limited performer on the balance of his six runs and recent form figures of 9650-9. He drops back to 5f today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at the trip while a 6f run last time offered no encouragement either. The jockey has a solid 12% strike rate from 43 rides at Down Royal. Trainer data is limited at the track and the three-year-old is unproven on the ground. From draw seven, he represents a yard that has shown little to shout about of late and will need to find improvement to feature.
The rest of the field
WhatswrongnowKTB Fit 50/100
Whatswrongnow is a limited horse who has shown little spark in 32 starts this year and arrives in ordinary form. Drops back to 5f having been placed at the trip in the past though the move asks a fresh question after his last run over 6½f. Jockey has a solid 23% strike rate here from 80 rides but the yard has no recorded runners at Down Royal.
Raven's CallKTB Fit 47/100
Raven's Call has shown little in three starts to date and looks limited on the balance of form. He was well held when fifth on his only previous run here and is now dropping back to 5f having failed to make an impact at that trip on his debut. The yard's 14% strike rate at Down Royal offers some encouragement but the overall profile remains modest.
Dandy LandKTB Fit 47/100
Dandy Land is a limited horse who has shown only modest form in six starts and was beaten over four lengths when third at this trip last time. He has placed once at today's distance but remains winless and now tries headgear for the first time. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 15% strike rate here from decent-sized samples.
ShamankaKTB Fit 44/100
Shamanka is a modest performer with a recent record of 530-04 that shows little spark. She has run just once over this trip without success and is unproven on the current ground. First-time headgear is now applied while the yard and jockey both have limited experience at Down Royal.
Spirit AboveKTB Fit 44/100
Spirit Above is a limited horse who has shown just fair form at best. Has placed twice from two runs at this track though without winning and drops back to 5f today having last run over 6½f. Trainer records a modest 8% strike rate here from 25 runs while the jockey is still seeking a first winner from ten rides at Down Royal.
MonastereKTB Fit 42/100
Monastere is a limited performer who has shown a bit of spark on his better days but finished only fifth of six at this track last time. Dropping back to an untried 5f asks a fresh question while he remains unproven on the ground. Trainer strikes at 11% here from a decent-sized sample while the jockey is 5% from a very large one.
SnowballsKTB Fit 42/100
Snowballs is a limited performer who has shown very little spark this year and arrives in modest form. Drops back to 5f for the first time in a while having failed to trouble the judge in eight previous attempts at the trip and is unproven on this ground. First-time headgear is reached for while the trainer has a solid 15% strike rate at the track.
KTB verdict
Viamonte is the KTB Selection and, despite his modest profile, edges the Fit ratings in a race where several runners are hard to enthuse about strongly. The application of first-time headgear may help spark improvement from a horse who has been placed at the trip before, and the trainer-jockey combination brings positive if limited course statistics. Main dangers include Bye Bye Now, whose consistency this season and trip win make him a solid benchmark, and Hot To Foxtrot, who has shown placed form at the track and now tries headgear while dropping in distance. Spirit Of Eagles cannot be entirely dismissed given his course win, though the patchy recent form tempers expectations.
KTB Selection Viamonte
This is the narrative read of the 5:42 Down Royal. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Down Royal racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is making its first start in headgear?
Viamonte, Hot To Foxtrot, Spirit Of Eagles, Dandy Land, Shamanka and Snowballs are all wearing first-time headgear.
Who has the best recent consistency according to the KTB Intelligence?
Bye Bye Now has shown some consistency this year with form figures of 44142.
Which runners have previous placed form at Down Royal?
Hot To Foxtrot has been placed once in three runs here, Spirit Of Eagles has won once from ten starts at the course, Spirit Above has placed twice from two runs here, and Shamanka has finished fourth on its sole run at the track.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
The pace shape is tentative with low confidence and a possible front-runner on thin evidence, so the key question is whether Monastere can seize an uncontested lead or if the race develops into a sprint from a compact pack.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Down Royal among the principals?
Adam Browne-Souza has a 50% strike rate at Down Royal with an A/E of 4.43 from two rides.
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