7:09 Ballinrobe
The 7:09 at Ballinrobe is the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle (Division I), a competitive 19-runner affair over 2m6f41y on good ground. The KTB numbers point to a race with a handful of principals holding strong claims, headed by Tannery Park who tops the Fit rankings on 68. Several runners bring course form or first-time headgear, while the overall standard mixes useful types with fair and modest performers stepping up or down in trip.
How the race shapes up
With a field of this size and a mix of run-styles, the pace shape looks likely to be on the steady side early, though several hold-up performers could mean the race develops into a test of stamina late on. Tannery Park and It's Time Again have both shown they can race prominently, while others such as Bearami Creek and Run For The Border tend to come from off the pace. The key question is whether the step up or drop in trip for so many runners will expose stamina limitations or allow unexposed improvers to come to the fore in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Tannery Park KTB Selection68/100Useful performer who has already won over this trip and at this track.
- 2It's Time Again65/100It's Time Again is a useful sort who knows his way around this track, winning three times from eight runs here.
- 3Bearami Creek61/100Useful performer who has placed here once without winning and has shown competitive form on good ground.
- 4Ballinaboola Hanna60/100Fair performer who has shown little spark in five completed starts since finishing fifth on debut.
- 5Madame Masque54/100Useful mare who showed ability when winning a point but has been well held in three hurdle starts since.
- 6Not So Serious54/100Fair performer who has been pulled up on his last three starts and arrives here with plenty to prove.
- 7Run For The Border53/100Useful performer who ran well when third here over shorter on return.
- 8Vroomvroomboo51/100Fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and was well held on his only previous run here.
- 9John Dixen50/100Fair performer who showed little in four completed starts over hurdles last season before a better effort when sixth on return at this track.
- 10Ranger Billy47/100Ranger Billy is a fair 10-year-old who has shown some ability at this trip and on this ground, with two placed efforts from four runs at the distance and a win…
- 11My Good Pal46/100Fair performer who has been placed once from nine starts on good ground but is 0-4 at this track with modest efforts.
- 12Coppola45/100Fair performer who has been consistent without winning, finishing runner-up three times from his last five completed starts.
- 13Sineads Fancy44/100Modest performer who has shown little spark on his last two starts and was pulled up on his previous visit here.
- 14Will It Be You43/100Fair performer who won over this trip at Ballinrobe and has placed on good ground.
- 15Coole Vision43/100Fair sort who has shown little spark in two starts this year after a long absence.
- 16Light Her Up43/100Light Her Up is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground with a placed effort from three starts.
- 17Whatyouwant41/100Whatyouwant is a fair sort who has won once in three runs at this track.
- 18Tantrum Boy38/100Tantrum Boy is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has shown very little in five starts to date.
- 19Lost Features36/100Modest performer who has failed to complete in three of his last four starts and looks vulnerable from this mark.
The contenders
Tannery Park KTB Fit 68/100
Tannery Park arrives as the KTB Selection with a Fit Score of 68. A useful performer, he has already won over this trip and at this track, where the yard posts a 31% strike rate from 16 runs with an A/E of 1.72. He possesses a solid record on good ground with one win from five starts and one placing, and his course record reads one win from two runs. Mark Walsh takes the ride; the jockey has a 15% strike rate at Ballinrobe from 193 rides with an A/E of 0.87. Recent form of 50/51- underlines his competitiveness at this level, and connections will hope he can build on that promise in a race where his proven ability over the trip and at the venue stands out.
It's Time Again KTB Fit 65/100
It's Time Again is rated with a KTB Fit Score of 65 and is a useful sort who knows his way around Ballinrobe, winning three times from eight runs here. He has solid form on good ground with two wins and four places from ten starts and has won at today's trip. The first-time headgear is an interesting addition as he attempts to bounce back from recent form figures of /6-0PF. Trainer David Richard Barry has a 23% strike rate at the track from 13 runs with an A/E of 2.16, though jockey Liam McKenna has managed only a 2% strike rate from 47 rides with an A/E of 0.31, which is a negative. At the age of ten he retains plenty of know-how around this venue.
Bearami Creek KTB Fit 61/100
Bearami Creek carries a KTB Fit Score of 61 and is a useful performer who has placed here once without winning and has shown competitive form on good ground, with one placing from eight starts though no win. Recent efforts have been patchy with a string of modest results including a pulled-up effort last time out, as reflected in his form figures of 450P-0. He steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question of him. Trainer Peter Fahey and jockey Sam Ewing combine with a 21/176 (12%) record and A/E of 1.12, while the trainer's own record at Ballinrobe is 13% from 112 runs with an A/E of 1.08 and the jockey is 12% from 49 rides with an A/E of 1.02.
Ballinaboola Hanna KTB Fit 60/100
Ballinaboola Hanna is assessed at a KTB Fit Score of 60 and is a fair performer who has shown little spark in five completed starts since finishing fifth on debut, with recent form figures of 75F69-. The step up to this trip is an unknown and first-time headgear is now applied in a bid to spark improvement. Trainer R Donohoe has a 14% strike rate at Ballinrobe from 29 runs with an A/E of 1.68. The jockey is listed as Reserve 3 with course record unavailable. Having shown only modest form to date, he will need to find plenty on what he has shown so far.
Madame Masque KTB Fit 54/100
Madame Masque has a KTB Fit Score of 54 and is a useful mare who showed ability when winning a point but has been well held in three hurdle starts since, with form figures of 1/000-. First-time headgear is now fitted as she steps up markedly in trip. Trainer Henry De Bromhead and jockey Darragh O'Keeffe both operate at a 12% strike rate at Ballinrobe, the former with an A/E of 0.64 from 136 runs and the latter with an A/E of 1.03 from 168 rides; their combined record is 146/906 (16%) with an A/E of 0.86. She remains unproven on good ground.
The rest of the field
Not So SeriousKTB Fit 54/100
Not So Serious has a KTB Fit Score of 54 and is a fair performer who has been pulled up on his last three starts and arrives here with plenty to prove. Trainer W J Lanigan has a strong 20% strike rate at Ballinrobe from 10 runs with an A/E of 2.71, though the horse has shown nothing on good ground in four runs and steps up in trip as a fresh question today. First-time headgear is now fitted and recent form reads 0-0PPP.
Run For The BorderKTB Fit 53/100
Run For The Border is rated with a KTB Fit Score of 53 and is a useful performer who ran well when third here over shorter on return. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question while his record on good ground is modest from limited attempts with four runs, no win or place. Trainer John Patrick Ryan has an 11% strike rate at Ballinrobe from 332 runs with an A/E of 1.1, but the 5lb claimer has had too few rides here to judge with a 0% strike rate from two rides. Recent form is 7157-3.
VroomvroombooKTB Fit 51/100
Vroomvroomboo carries a KTB Fit Score of 51 and is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and was well held on his only previous run here. He steps up in trip for the first time in over a year while wearing first-time headgear. Trainer James Andrew Fahey has a modest 5% strike rate at the track from 22 runs with an A/E of 0.54, partly offset by the jockey's solid 9% strike rate from 11 rides with an A/E of 1.97. Recent form reads 5050-8.
John DixenKTB Fit 50/100
John Dixen has a KTB Fit Score of 50 and is a fair performer who showed little in four completed starts over hurdles last season before a better effort when sixth on return at this track. First-time headgear is now fitted as he steps back up in trip having failed to make an impact at this distance on his only attempt. Trainer P J Rothwell and jockey Simon Torrens both have solid records here, the trainer at 10% from 395 runs with an A/E of 1.04 and the jockey at 12% from 106 rides with an A/E of 1.27, though the small going sample leaves that side of things unknown. Form is P000-6.
Ranger BillyKTB Fit 47/100
Ranger Billy is a fair 10-year-old rated with a KTB Fit Score of 47 who has shown some ability at this trip and on this ground, with two placed efforts from four runs at the distance and a win plus two places from six starts on good. He has course form here having finished second on his only visit to Ballinrobe, though his recent efforts have been poor with three pulled-ups from his last four starts. First-time headgear is now applied. Trainer K A Heffernan has a modest 4% strike rate from 24 runs at the track while jockey J J Slevin is 7% from 129 rides with an A/E of 0.58.
My Good PalKTB Fit 46/100
My Good Pal has a KTB Fit Score of 46 and is a fair performer who has been placed once from nine starts on good ground but is 0-4 at this track with modest efforts. He steps up in trip today having failed to win in two previous tries at this distance and now tries first-time headgear. Trainer Gavin Cromwell's modest 7% strike rate at Ballinrobe from 216 runs adds little encouragement. Recent form is 85-2U8.
CoppolaKTB Fit 45/100
Coppola is rated with a KTB Fit Score of 45 and is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning, finishing runner-up three times from his last five completed starts. He drops back in trip today having been placed over this distance on his only attempt, and he has handled good ground in the past with one placing from two starts. Trainer Gordon Elliott has a 13% strike-rate at Ballinrobe from 455 runs with an A/E of 0.78, though the claiming jockey has only one ride here so far with a 0% record. Form reads 222P-P.
Sineads FancyKTB Fit 44/100
Sineads Fancy has a KTB Fit Score of 44 and is a modest performer who has shown little spark on his last two starts and was pulled up on his previous visit here. He has placed once from three runs at Ballinrobe and holds a win at today's trip though his record on good ground is only moderate with one win and one place from six starts. First-time headgear is now applied. Trainer S Ryan has no Ballinrobe record while jockey Cian Quirke is 6% from 49 rides with an A/E of 0.65.
Will It Be YouKTB Fit 43/100
Will It Be You carries a KTB Fit Score of 43 and is a fair performer who won over this trip at Ballinrobe and has placed on good ground with one placing from four starts. Recent form is poor and he now tries first-time headgear while dropping back from three miles. The trainer has an 8% strike rate here from 52 runs with an A/E of 0.89 while the jockey is 6% from 101 rides with an A/E of 0.58. Form is /80P-9.
Coole VisionKTB Fit 43/100
Coole Vision is rated with a KTB Fit Score of 43 and is a fair sort who has shown little spark in two starts this year after a long absence. First try at this longer trip asks a fresh question while his sole run on good ground yielded no reward. Trainer Norman Lee has a solid 10% strike rate here from 173 runs with an A/E of 1.16 but the jockey is less prolific with a 6% record from 18 rides with an A/E of 0.46. Recent form is P4/P-0.
Light Her UpKTB Fit 43/100
Light Her Up has a KTB Fit Score of 43 and is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground with a placed effort from three starts. He steps up in trip today having been well held in his only previous try at this distance and makes his first appearance at Ballinrobe. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 17 runs here. Recent form is 6/460-.
WhatyouwantKTB Fit 41/100
Whatyouwant is a fair sort rated with a KTB Fit Score of 41 who has won once in three runs at this track. He has failed to place in six runs on good ground and drops back in trip today having been out of the frame in all four previous attempts at this distance. First-time headgear is now tried while both trainer and jockey have modest records here, the trainer at 0% from four runs and the jockey at 4% from 47 rides with an A/E of 0.61. Form is 61P-75.
Tantrum BoyKTB Fit 38/100
Tantrum Boy has a KTB Fit Score of 38 and is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has shown very little in five starts to date with form of 070-08. The trainer has a 6% strike rate from 50 runs here with an A/E of 0.64 while the jockey is operating at 4% from 269 rides with an A/E of 0.47. He steps up in trip today for the first time and the going remains an unknown on such limited evidence with one run, no win or place.
Lost FeaturesKTB Fit 36/100
Lost Features is a modest performer with a KTB Fit Score of 36 who has failed to complete in three of his last four starts and looks vulnerable from this mark with form of P9-98P. He steps up in trip today having shown little on good ground over shorter with two runs, no win or place. Trainer Darren Collins is still seeking a first Ballinrobe winner from 14 runs while jockey Philip Donovan is 7% from 56 rides with an A/E of 0.89.
KTB verdict
Tannery Park stands out as the KTB Selection. A useful performer with a win over this trip and at this track, he brings a solid record on good ground and benefits from the yard's strong 31% strike rate at Ballinrobe. Mark Walsh is a respected booking and the recent form suggests he can be competitive at this level. It's Time Again, with his course record of three wins from eight runs and the first-time headgear, is the most obvious danger, while Bearami Creek and the remainder of the field will need to improve on recent patchy efforts or answer their respective trip and ground questions if they are to feature.
KTB Selection Tannery Park
This is the narrative read of the 7:09 Ballinrobe. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Ballinrobe racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest trainer record at Ballinrobe in this field?
Tannery Park's trainer Barry Connell has a 31% strike rate at Ballinrobe from 16 runs with an A/E of 1.72.
How many runners in the race are wearing first-time headgear?
It's Time Again, Ballinaboola Hanna, Madame Masque, Not So Serious, Vroomvroomboo, John Dixen, Ranger Billy, My Good Pal, Sineads Fancy, Will It Be You, Whatyouwant and Tantrum Boy are all wearing first-time headgear.
Which horses have previous winning form at Ballinrobe over this trip or similar?
Tannery Park has won here, It's Time Again has won here three times from eight runs, Will It Be You has won here over this trip, and Whatyouwant has won here once from three runs.
Who holds the best recent course form at this venue among the principals?
It's Time Again has three wins from eight runs at Ballinrobe, while Tannery Park has one win from two runs and Bearami Creek has placed once from one run.
Which runners are stepping up in trip for the first time today?
Bearami Creek, Ballinaboola Hanna, Not So Serious, Run For The Border, Vroomvroomboo, Coole Vision and Light Her Up are all stepping up in trip for the first time.
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