6:30 Limerick
The 6:30 at Limerick is a 0-60 handicap over six and a half furlongs on firm ground, featuring a field of fifteen three-year-olds with a smattering of older horses absent. KTB's Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by Spirit Above on 59, with five principals clustered between 50 and 59, suggesting a competitive race where small margins and the application of first-time headgear could prove decisive. Most of the field arrive with unproven credentials on firm ground, adding an element of guesswork to how they will handle the surface.
How the race shapes up
With no confirmed front-runners among the principals and a pace shape that looks on the steady side, the race is likely to be run at a modest gallop early on. Spirit Above from draw three and Sayonara from stall one are expected to track the pace, while several mid-division runners may look to improve from off it. The key question is whether the leaders can dictate matters or if the race will be decided by those coming from mid-pack or further back as the firm ground allows for strong closing efforts.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Spirit Above KTB Selection59/100
- 2Zheleznaya Dama53/100
- 3Jampa Ling51/100
- 4Princess Chloe51/100
- 5Sayonara50/100
- 6Baby Basma48/100
- 7Dialin For Dollars47/100
- 8He's Holding Court43/100
- 9Dawn Flame41/100
- 10Ochtar Againn38/100
- 11Sand Art36/100
- 12She's On The Ball36/100
- 13Iryna's Star35/100
- 14Glen Breeze34/100
- 15Windsor Lily33/100
The contenders
Spirit Above KTB Fit 59/100
Spirit Above tops the KTB Fit ratings on 59 and is the clear selection. A 3-year-old with recent form figures of -77024, he showed his best effort when second last time out. Kevin Michael Smith has a 20% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 1.39, while Dylan Browne McMonagle boasts a 23% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.29. The colt is unproven on firm ground and has no previous course form, but he now tries first-time headgear which could sharpen him up. Drawn in three, his run-style should see him well placed to take advantage if the pace is not strong.
Zheleznaya Dama KTB Fit 53/100
Zheleznaya Dama is rated second on KTB Fit with a mark of 53. This 3-year-old has recent form figures of 0083-P and is another who has yet to race on firm ground. Brendan W Duke's 7% strike rate at Limerick is backed by an A/E of 1.13, though Shane B Kelly's 9% strike rate comes with an A/E of 0.81. The filly has no course form to speak of. Her previous effort when third suggests she retains ability, and from draw five she should be able to get a nice position early.
Jampa Ling KTB Fit 51/100
Jampa Ling carries a KTB Fit Score of 51. The 3-year-old's recent form reads 159630, showing a win earlier in the campaign but consistency has been lacking since. Kieran P Cotter and Scott McCullagh combine with a 17% strike rate from six runs together. Cotter's Limerick record stands at 8% with an A/E of 0.97, while McCullagh is on 10% with an A/E of 0.98. Like most of the field he is unproven on firm and has no course history. Drawn in eight, his run-style lends itself to a midfield position.
Princess Chloe KTB Fit 51/100
Princess Chloe also scores 51 on KTB Fit. This 3-year-old has form figures of 7048 and now tries first-time headgear in a bid to improve. Daniel James Murphy has a 0% strike rate at Limerick from two runs with an A/E of 0, but jockey Jessica O'Gorman, claiming 7lb, has a strong 20% strike rate at the venue with an A/E of 1.8. The filly is unproven on firm ground and has no course form. From a wide draw in twelve she will need to overcome that disadvantage if she is to feature.
Sayonara KTB Fit 50/100
Sayonara is the fifth principal with a KTB Fit of 50. The 3-year-old has recent form of 8-5300 and is drawn in stall one, which could be an advantage if the pace is modest. Andrew Slattery has a solid 9% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.93 from a large sample, though apprentice Ava Maher has no record at the track. Unproven on firm ground with no course form, she will need to bounce back from two modest efforts but is capable of a bold show if returning to her earlier promise.
The rest of the field
Baby BasmaKTB Fit 48/100
Baby Basma has a KTB Fit of 48 and recent form of 1-47. E J O'Neill has no specific Limerick record while Gavin Ryan has an 8% strike rate there with an A/E of 0.77. The 3-year-old is unproven on firm and has no course form.
Dialin For DollarsKTB Fit 47/100
Dialin For Dollars, a 2-year-old, scores 47 on KTB Fit with form 3700-. David Marnane and Nathan Crosse have a 5% strike rate together with an A/E of 0.88. Marnane's Limerick record is 10% with an A/E of 0.95. The colt is unproven on firm with no course form.
He's Holding CourtKTB Fit 43/100
He's Holding Court has a KTB Fit of 43 and form of 807640. From the Andrew Slattery yard he has a 9% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.93. Jack Cleary, claiming 5lb, has a 10% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.09. Unproven on firm and no course form.
Dawn FlameKTB Fit 41/100
Dawn Flame scores 41 on KTB Fit with form 149008 and now tries first-time headgear. Paul W Flynn has a 7% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.85, but Luke McAteer is on 4% with an A/E of 0.48. The 3-year-old is unproven on firm with no course form.
Ochtar AgainnKTB Fit 38/100
Ochtar Againn has a KTB Fit of 38 and form of -00500, now wearing first-time headgear. M J Byrne's Limerick record is 4% with an A/E of 0.52, while Jimmy Dalton has a 0% strike rate from six rides there. Unproven on firm with no course form.
Sand ArtKTB Fit 36/100
Sand Art scores 36 on KTB Fit with form 0-8770. Kevin Thomas Coleman has a 6% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 1.05, but Jamie Powell has a 0% strike rate from 27 rides. The 3-year-old is unproven on firm and has no course form.
She's On The BallKTB Fit 36/100
She's On The Ball has a KTB Fit of 36 and form of -00058. Laura Hourigan has a 0% strike rate at Limerick from eleven runs. The 3-year-old has one run at the course when fifth and remains unproven on firm ground.
Iryna's StarKTB Fit 35/100
Iryna's Star scores 35 on KTB Fit with form 058950. Michael Mulvany has a 9% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.99, but Terry Casey has a 0% strike rate from two rides. The 3-year-old is unproven on firm with no course form.
Glen BreezeKTB Fit 34/100
Glen Breeze has a KTB Fit of 34 and recent form of 760203, now in first-time headgear. Patrick Magee has a 0% strike rate at Limerick from two runs, while J M Sheridan is on 5% with an A/E of 0.52. Unproven on firm with no course form.
Windsor LilyKTB Fit 33/100
Windsor Lily scores 33 on KTB Fit with form 8-5900 and now tries first-time headgear. Joseph G Murphy has a 2% strike rate at Limerick with an A/E of 0.28, while Adam Caffrey is on 9% with an A/E of 0.8. The 3-year-old is unproven on firm with no course form.
KTB verdict
Spirit Above emerges as the KTB Selection at the head of the Fit ratings and with the benefit of a good draw and first-time headgear. His recent second suggests he is in reasonable form, and the trainer and jockey combination both have above-average records at Limerick. The main dangers are likely to come from Zheleznaya Dama, who has shown some ability, and Jampa Ling, who possesses a previous win. Princess Chloe and Sayonara cannot be entirely ruled out if the headgear and draw respectively bring about improvement on this firm surface.
KTB Selection Spirit Above
This is the narrative read of the 6:30 Limerick. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Limerick racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is unproven on firm ground but has the highest KTB Fit Score?
Spirit Above with a KTB Fit of 59.
How many runners in the race are wearing first-time headgear?
Five runners: Spirit Above, Princess Chloe, Dawn Flame, Ochtar Againn and Glen Breeze, plus Windsor Lily.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Limerick among those riding in this handicap?
Dylan Browne McMonagle with a 23% strike rate and A/E of 1.29.
Which trainer has recorded the highest strike rate at Limerick in this field?
Kevin Michael Smith with a 20% strike rate at Limerick and an A/E of 1.39.
What is the course record of the KTB Selection Spirit Above?
No course form on record.
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