7:00 Dundalk (AW)
This 1m handicap at Dundalk on standard ground brings together a field of 17, most of them rated in the mid- to high-70s to low-90s, with the official ratings tightly bunched. The KTB Fit Scores point to a race with a handful of clear principals headed by Bold Style on 64, followed by Hellorhighwater, Sonoran, Exquisite Acclaim and Booyea all in the mid-50s, while the remainder sit between 55 and 43. With a strong pace shape indicated by two or more confirmed front-runners, the race is set up to test stamina late on and could suit those capable of producing their effort from off the pace.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present, notably Exquisite Acclaim from stall 13 and Star Strewn drawn in 10. Several others tend to race prominently or in mid-division, which should ensure an honest gallop that has every chance of collapsing in the straight. That scenario would place the emphasis on hold-up performers who can time their run, posing the key question of whether any of the prominent racers can withstand the late challengers or if the race will fall to one of the patient hold-up types.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Bold Style KTB Selection64/100
Bold Style is a fair performer who has shown some spark on his last two starts over 7f. He steps up to a trip he has won at before and holds a solid record on standard ground with one win and a placing from just two runs. The five-year-old is drawn in stall 5 and is usually held up, producing his effort late, though evidence for that run-style is limited. Trainer A. Slattery has an 8% strike rate at Dundalk from 927 runs while jockey Adam Browne-Souza posts an 11% record from 44 rides at the track, which helps offset the yard's modest figures. Recent form of 0-0635 suggests he is competitive at this level and the KTB Fit Score of 64 identifies him as the selection.
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2Hellorhighwater59/100
Hellorhighwater is a fair performer who arrives in solid form after winning at this trip on his penultimate start. He has shown consistent placed efforts on this surface and the yard's 12% strike rate at Dundalk from 233 runs is respectable. The four-year-old is a habitual hold-up performer with high confidence in that assessment and is drawn in stall 4. Trainer Miss Natalia Lupini and jockey Ben Coen combine with a 15% strike rate from 20 runs together while the yard is 10% at the track from a large sample and the jockey 10% from 853 rides. He is unproven on standard ground but his overall profile suggests he has every chance again with a KTB Fit Score of 59.
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3Sonoran56/100
Sonoran is a fair performer who has won once over this trip from five attempts and showed his best recent effort when winning at this track in December. He has placed once from two runs here on standard ground but ran poorly on his latest visit to Dundalk. The four-year-old is drawn in stall 6 and is a confirmed hold-up type with high confidence attached to that run-style. Trainer G. M. Lyons has a 17% strike rate at Dundalk from 1584 runs while jockey Robert Whearty is on 7% from 485 rides at the venue. Recent form of 369951 includes that December success and he comes into this with a KTB Fit Score of 56.
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4Exquisite Acclaim55/100
Exquisite Acclaim is a fair sort with a solid record at this track, including six wins from 21 runs, and has also won three times at this trip. He acts well on the standard surface with seven wins from 26 starts on it, though his recent form of 604634 suggests he is not quite at his peak right now. The seven-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace and is drawn in stall 13, which could see him prominent in a race with a strong pace likely. Trainer Adrian McGuinness has a 10% strike rate at Dundalk from 1989 runs while jockey Adam Caffrey is 12% from 500 rides here. With a KTB Fit Score of 55 he remains a contender on his course form alone.
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5Booyea55/100
Booyea is a fair performer who has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He steps up to 1m today having won at the trip in the past though he is unproven on standard going. The six-year-old is drawn in stall 3 and is usually held up, producing his effort late with high confidence in that assessment. Trainer Thomas Gibney has an 8% strike rate at Dundalk from 93 runs while jockey J M Sheridan operates at 7% from 747 rides at the track. Recent form of 028405 reflects his current modest level but the KTB Fit Score of 55 keeps him in the mix among the principals.
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6Bishopton55/100
Bishopton is a fair performer who has won twice from six starts at this track and handles the standard surface well with two wins and five places from six runs. He steps up to 1m today having last run over 7f, and while he has placed three times from five starts at the trip he has yet to win over it. Trainer Miss Natalia Lupini has a 12% strike rate from 233 runs at Dundalk, though the jockey has only one ride here so far.
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7Daler54/100
Daler is a fair sort who has won over this trip and on this surface. He has a solid record here with one win from seven starts and has been running consistently this year with three placed efforts in his last five outings. The trainer has a good 17% strike-rate at Dundalk from a big sample while the jockey is operating at 7%.
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8Alissam54/100
Alissam is a fair 3-year-old who has already shown his liking for this track with a win from three runs at Dundalk. He has won on the standard surface and placed when tried over today's mile trip, though the first-time headgear suggests connections want more from him now. The trainer holds a solid 21% strike rate here while the jockey's 11% rate from a big sample is respectable.
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9Glyndwr49/100
Glyndwr is a fair handicapper who has won three times from four runs at this track and looks well suited by the return to standard ground where he has three wins from five starts. He has also won at this trip though his recent form has been ordinary and the wide draw in stall 17 is far from ideal. The trainer's modest record here is offset by the jockey's solid 10% strike-rate at Dundalk.
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10Star Strewn49/100
Star Strewn is a fair 3-year-old who has shown solid ability on this track, winning once from three runs at Dundalk. He has also won at this trip and on the standard surface, giving him a clear course-and-distance edge over several rivals. The yard and jockey both record modest strike rates here, though the horse's own form and connections keep the assessment reasonably positive.
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11Ohailbhic48/100
Ohailbhic is a fair sort who has won three times at this track from eight starts and also holds a solid record on standard ground with three wins from eight runs. He steps up to 1m today having won twice from three starts at the trip though his most recent efforts came over 7f. The trainer holds a 12% strike rate here from 617 runs while the jockey is operating at 9% from 157 rides.
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12Golddream48/100
Golddream is a fair 3-year-old who has already won over this trip and on this surface at Dundalk. He showed useful early form before tailing off in his last two starts, so the ability is there but recent consistency is a clear negative. The yard and jockey both operate at a 10% strike rate here, which is in line with expectations given the volume of runners.
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13Gavoo47/100
Gavoo is a modest performer who has won once from one run at this track on standard ground. Recent form has been patchy with a string of mid-field finishes and he steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge on his only previous try at a mile. Trainer's modest 10% strike rate from a huge sample at Dundalk adds no particular confidence.
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14Venetian46/100
Venetian is a modest performer with a solid record at this track, including two wins from 21 runs. He steps up markedly in trip from a recent 5f run having already won twice at 1m, though the wide draw in stall 12 is far from ideal. Trainer's modest 7% strike rate from a huge 1334 runs at Dundalk adds a note of caution.
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15Naoi45/100
Naoi is a fair performer who won a 7f handicap here in January and followed up over the same trip last month. He steps up to 1m for the first time today having been beaten on his only previous attempt at the distance. Trainer's modest 6% strike rate at Dundalk is offset by the jockey's solid 14% record at the track.
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16Brewing44/100
Brewing is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this track, finishing second twice and third once from five runs here. He steps up to 1m for the first time today having been placed without winning at the distance before, while his record on standard ground reads two wins and five places from 15 starts. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate from 161 runs at Dundalk tempers expectations.
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17Temperance43/100
Temperance is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this track, finishing second twice and third once from three runs. The step up to 1m asks a fresh question after recent runs over 7f where he has been largely out of form. Trainer Miss Kate McGivern has a 0% strike rate from 17 runs at Dundalk while jockey Chris Hayes operates at a 9% strike rate from 2421 rides here.
KTB verdict
Bold Style is the KTB Selection. He steps up to a trip he has won at before, boasts a solid record on standard ground from limited attempts, and has shown spark in his last two starts over 7f. The combination of a patient run-style in a race with a strong pace likely and the useful record of jockey Adam Browne-Souza at Dundalk adds to his appeal. Main dangers include Hellorhighwater, who arrives in solid form after a recent win at the trip, Sonoran with his course-winning record, and the track specialist Exquisite Acclaim who could set the pace.
KTB Selection Bold Style
This is the narrative read of the 7:00 Dundalk (AW). For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Dundalk (AW) racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Dundalk (AW) results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Dundalk (AW) racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is best suited by the expected strong pace?
Hold-up horses are favoured as the strong pace could collapse late. Bold Style, Hellorhighwater, Sonoran, Booyea, Bishopton, Daler, Alissam, Glyndwr, Golddream, Gavoo, Venetian, Naoi, Brewing and Temperance are all usually held up.
How many wins has Exquisite Acclaim recorded at Dundalk?
Six wins from 21 runs at the track.
Which runners are unproven on standard ground?
Hellorhighwater, Booyea and Naoi have no runs on standard going.
What is the course record of Glyndwr at Dundalk?
Three wins from four runs at the track.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Dundalk among those represented?
Stephen Thorne with a 21% strike rate at Dundalk from 149 runs.
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