7:00 Leopardstown
This 1m5f handicap at Leopardstown on good to firm ground brings together a field of 12 where the KTB Fit ratings point to a competitive but not particularly high-class affair. The top five are separated by just ten points on the KTB scale, with the selection carrying the highest mark of 57. Most of the runners are held-up types, and the lack of an obvious leader sets up a steadily-run, tactical race in which positioning and timing will be key.
How the race shapes up
With no confirmed front-runner in the field, the pace is expected to be steady rather than searching early on. The race is likely to develop into a tactical affair where those racing handily can turn the screw at the right moment. Most principals are held-up performers who will be looking to produce their effort from off the pace, meaning the key question is whether the race will be run to suit late closers or if the leaders can steal an advantage in a steadily-run contest.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Darius Dark KTB Selection57/100Darius Dark is a fair 3 year old who has won here once from two starts and showed useful form when landing two of his last three races.
- 2Sea Coral52/100Sea Coral is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning, finishing in the first three on three of her last five starts.
- 3Satono Chevalier48/100Satono Chevalier is a fair performer who has won both starts at this trip and arrives in decent form having landed two of his last four races.
- 4Harry's Legacy47/100Harry's Legacy is a modest performer who has won once from two runs at Leopardstown.
- 5Ehteyat47/100Ehteyat is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this level.
- 6Pavilion End47/100Pavilion End is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year yet showed a bit more when third last time.
- 7Gaelic Drills47/100Modest performer who has shown little progress in five runs this year and was well held when fifth on his only previous visit to Leopardstown.
- 8Ben Hur46/100Modest performer who showed some promise when third on return from a break last time.
- 9Celtic Druid45/100Modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with two wins from 23 runs.
- 10Cooley's Mist45/100Modest performer who won over this trip on his only attempt and has also scored at this track from four visits.
- 11Party Dress42/100Modest performer who has shown some ability on this track, finishing second here on her penultimate start.
- 12Lauderdale King37/100Modest performer who has shown little in five starts to date.
The contenders
Darius Dark KTB Fit 57/100
Darius Dark is a fair three-year-old who has already won here once from two starts at Leopardstown. He has shown useful form by landing two of his last three races and steps up in trip today having tried this distance once without success. The yard posts a modest 9% strike rate at the track from a big sample of 447 runs, while Ben Coen has a 7% strike rate here from 383 rides. The going looks suitable on his one run to date on similar ground. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and is the KTB Selection.
Sea Coral KTB Fit 52/100
Sea Coral is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning, finishing in the first three on three of her last five starts. She steps up in trip today having already placed over this distance once, though her record on good to firm ground is modest with no win or place from two runs. The first-time headgear is an unknown and she makes her debut at Leopardstown where the trainer holds a 10% strike rate from a large sample of 1833 runs. Shane Foley has an 11% strike rate at the track from 1009 rides. Usually held up, she produces her effort late.
Satono Chevalier KTB Fit 48/100
Satono Chevalier is a fair performer who has won both starts at this trip and arrives in decent form having landed two of his last four races. He has been well held in both previous runs here and has failed to place in two tries on good to firm ground. First-time headgear is now fitted while the trainer has only had one runner at the track. Seamie Hefferan has a 10% strike rate at Leopardstown from 1514 rides. Usually held up, he produces his effort late.
Harry's Legacy KTB Fit 47/100
Harry's Legacy is a modest performer who has won once from two runs at Leopardstown. He has been consistent enough to place on three of his last five starts but finished well beaten on his most recent two outings while trying 2m. Dropping back to 1m5f poses a fresh question, he is unplaced in one previous run on good to firm ground, and first-time headgear is now applied. The trainer has a 6% strike rate at the track from 108 runs while the jockey has a 4% strike rate from 155 rides here. Usually held up, he produces his effort late.
Ehteyat KTB Fit 47/100
Ehteyat is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this level. He ran well to finish second here on his only previous visit to Leopardstown and now drops back from 2m1½f to a trip he has tried twice without success. The trainer has only one run at the track so far while the jockey is 0-5 at Leopardstown. Usually held up, he produces his effort late.
The rest of the field
Pavilion EndKTB Fit 47/100
Pavilion End is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year yet showed a bit more when third last time. He has run just once at Leopardstown and has never tackled good to firm ground so both those elements remain questions. The step up to 1m5f is another unknown and the yard's modest strike rate at the track adds little encouragement.
Gaelic DrillsKTB Fit 47/100
Gaelic Drills is a modest performer who has shown little progress in five runs this year and was well held when fifth on his only previous visit to Leopardstown. He steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact at a similar distance last time. Bolger has a solid 14% strike rate here from a huge sample while the jockey is 0-12 at the track.
Ben HurKTB Fit 46/100
Ben Hur is a modest performer who showed some promise when third on return from a break last time. Dropping back from 2m to an untried 1m5f poses a fresh question while his sole run here produced a modest fifth. Trainer Noel Meade has a 10% strike rate from 1705 runs at Leopardstown.
Celtic DruidKTB Fit 45/100
Celtic Druid is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with two wins from 23 runs. He has shown some ability at this trip without winning and has placed on good to firm, though his only previous try at Leopardstown produced a poor run after an earlier placing here. The trainer operates at a 5% strike rate at the track from a big sample.
Cooley's MistKTB Fit 45/100
Cooley's Mist is a modest performer who won over this trip on his only attempt and has also scored at this track from four visits. Recent form is patchy with a last-run success sandwiched between heavy defeats, while the first-time headgear is now reached for after a string of modest efforts. Trainer's modest 5% strike rate here from a big sample adds little confidence.
Party DressKTB Fit 42/100
Party Dress is a modest performer who has shown some ability on this track, finishing second here on her penultimate start. She is dropping back in trip today having been well held over further last time, with first-time headgear now tried. Trainer's modest 7% strike rate at Leopardstown from a big sample suggests limited expectations.
Lauderdale KingKTB Fit 37/100
Lauderdale King is a modest performer who has shown little in five starts to date. He finished a fair fourth on his most recent outing but was well held on his only previous visit to Leopardstown. Trainer Andrew Slattery has a 7% strike rate from 204 runs at this track while the jockey has the same record here.
KTB verdict
Darius Dark stands out as the KTB Selection. A fair three-year-old who has already won at this track and shown useful form by landing two of his last three races, he has the right profile for a steadily-run handicap in which being handy can pay. The selection has course form in his favour and the going looks suitable. His main dangers are Sea Coral, who has been consistent enough without winning and now tries first-time headgear, and Satono Chevalier, who has won both starts at this trip and arrives in decent form despite a poor record here.
KTB Selection Darius Dark
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:09 UTC, 20 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Darius Dark | 7/1 | Betano |
| Harry's Legacy | 20/1 | BetTom |
| Ben Hur | 9/4 | Star Sports |
| Celtic Druid | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Cooley's Mist | 12/1 | Bet Victor |
| Lauderdale King | 10/3 | BresBet |
This is the narrative read of the 7:00 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 won at Leopardstown from two starts?
Darius Dark has won here once from two starts.
How many principals are wearing first-time headgear?
Three of the five principals are wearing first-time headgear: Sea Coral, Satono Chevalier and Harry's Legacy.
Which horse has the strongest trainer strike rate at Leopardstown among the principals?
Mrs John Harrington has a 10% strike rate at Leopardstown from 1833 runs with Sea Coral.
What is the run-style shared by all five principals?
All five principals are held up and usually produce their effort late.
Which horse has placed at Leopardstown without winning?
Ehteyat has finished second here on his only previous visit to Leopardstown.
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