2:35 Killarney
The 2:35 at Killarney is an Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f50y on good ground with a field of 19. It is a competitive handicap where most of the principals are rated in the useful-to-fair bracket according to the KTB numbers, with the top five separated by only eight Fit points. The KTB Intelligence highlights that while several hold solid course trainer stats, many arrive with questions over trip, ground or recent form, making this a race where being well placed tactically could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. With the vast majority of the field, including all five principals, having a held-up run-style, the race is likely to develop into a sprint for the line from around the home turn. The key question is which of the late closers can produce their effort at the right time without getting caught out by the lack of early pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Deise Crystal KTB Selection61/100Useful performer who has shown consistent placed form this year but has failed to land a race in eight starts.
- 2Mc Swagger59/100Mc Swagger is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has looked out of form lately with a string of poor efforts including a 14th…
- 3Ballindenisk58/100Useful performer who has been well below his best in two runs this year after a long absence.
- 4Tedworth53/100Tedworth is a fair performer who has won once over today's trip from four attempts.
- 5Maxicourt53/100Maxicourt is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground but remains winless after 16 starts.
- 6Andyourbirdcansing50/100Useful performer who arrives in reasonable nick after a win at this trip three starts back.
- 7Pirate Island49/100Useful performer who has shown bits and pieces without winning for a while.
- 8Uptaurintop49/100Uptaurintop is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form of late and has already been competitive over today's trip.
- 9Silin Alainn48/100Silin Alainn is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has been well held in all five starts to date.
- 10Laligurash48/100Laligurash is a fair sort who has struggled to make an impact in four runs since an early unseating, finishing well beaten on each completed start.
- 11Pure Logic47/100Pure Logic is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form on good ground, including two efforts at today's trip.
- 12Mr Macphisto46/100Mr Macphisto is a fair 10-year-old who has shown little spark in recent runs and now steps up in trip having been well held over shorter.
- 13Lake Okeechobee46/100Fair performer who has shown some promise on his last two starts after a poor debut.
- 14Ballinvasas Best43/100Ballinvasas Best is a fair sort who has shown only modest form in recent starts and failed to complete last time.
- 15Coup d'Essay41/100Fair performer who has struggled since finishing seventh in a handicap hurdle at Cork last summer and was pulled up on his most recent start.
- 16The Border Boy38/100Modest performer who has failed to place in two runs at this track.
- 17Whatyouwant37/100Whatyouwant is a fair performer on his best days but has been out of form for most of this year and showed little spark when seventh last time.
- 18Keyser Smokesy35/100Keyser Smokesy is a fair type who has shown only modest form in seven runs to date, including a recent seventh over this course and distance.
- 19Drumadeise35/100Drumadeise is a fair maiden who has been well beaten on all five starts and was unseated last time.
The contenders
Deise Crystal KTB Fit 61/100
Deise Crystal is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form this year but has failed to land a race in eight starts. First time at Killarney and only one previous run on good ground leave a couple of questions to answer today. The trainer records a solid 9% strike-rate here while the claiming jockey has an excellent 40% record from her small sample of rides at the track. Usually held up, she produces her effort late and will be hoping the steady gallop allows her to come with a telling run. Recent form of 4P-235 underlines her ability to be competitive at this level without quite getting her head in front.
Mc Swagger KTB Fit 59/100
Mc Swagger is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has looked out of form lately with a string of poor efforts including a 14th and an unseat here. The step up in trip today asks a fresh question and his sole previous run at this distance brought no joy. Trainer Eoin Christopher McCarthy has a 9% strike rate from 126 runs at Killarney. Usually held up, he will be looking to produce his effort late in what is expected to be a tactical contest. Recent form of 9-U900 suggests he needs to bounce back to play a major role.
Ballindenisk KTB Fit 58/100
Ballindenisk is a useful performer who has been well below his best in two runs this year after a long absence. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a solid 11% strike rate from 479 runs at Killarney. Usually held up, he will need the steady pace to suit as he delivers his effort from the rear. Recent form of /005-9 indicates that he has work to do to return to his previous level of form.
Tedworth KTB Fit 53/100
Tedworth is a fair performer who has won once over today's trip from four attempts. He has shown little at this track in two runs and is yet to place in 11 starts on good ground. The trainer holds an 8% strike rate here from 12 runs while the jockey is operating at 15% from 20 rides. Usually held up with medium confidence in that assessment, he will be hoping to improve on his course efforts. Recent form of 01-4U7 shows a win at the trip but also some inconsistency.
Maxicourt KTB Fit 53/100
Maxicourt is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground but remains winless after 16 starts. He has been placed once from seven runs on this surface and has twice finished in the frame over this trip without winning, though his two efforts here at Killarney have been no better than midfield. The trainer holds a solid 10% strike rate from 21 runs at the track while the jockey is still seeking a first success from eight rides. Usually held up, he will be looking to improve on those Killarney runs in a steadily-run race. Recent form of -9P375 suggests he remains capable of being competitive.
The rest of the field
AndyourbirdcansingKTB Fit 50/100
Andyourbirdcansing is a useful performer who arrives in reasonable nick after a win at this trip three starts back. He steps up in distance today which poses a fresh question while the trainer's modest 6% strike rate at Killarney from a big sample suggests the yard rarely fires here. The jockey has a solid 11% record from limited rides at the track and the horse handles good ground.
Pirate IslandKTB Fit 49/100
Pirate Island is a useful performer who has shown bits and pieces without winning for a while. He steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance before, though his latest efforts were modest and the good-ground record is limited to a single unplaced run. This is his first time at Killarney for both horse and trainer while the jockey has had too few rides here to form any pattern.
UptaurintopKTB Fit 49/100
Uptaurintop is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form of late and has already been competitive over today's trip. He has placed on his only visit to Killarney and acts on good ground. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at the track from a large sample and the jockey's 0% record from ten rides add to the negatives.
Silin AlainnKTB Fit 48/100
Silin Alainn is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history but has been well held in all five starts to date. The yard's modest 6% strike rate from 216 runs at Killarney is a negative while the claiming jockey has a strong 14% strike rate from his 14 rides here. Stepping up markedly in trip for the first time today asks a fresh question of him and the small overall sample makes the going an unknown.
LaligurashKTB Fit 48/100
Laligurash is a fair sort who has struggled to make an impact in four runs since an early unseating, finishing well beaten on each completed start. The trainer has a modest 0% strike rate from nine runs at Killarney while the 4lb claimer has had too few rides here to judge. Stepping up in trip is an unknown at this stage.
Pure LogicKTB Fit 47/100
Pure Logic is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form on good ground, including two efforts at today's trip. He has been competitive at Killarney without winning or placing in two runs here, and his recent form of 6536P3 suggests he remains capable at this level. The yard's modest 5% strike rate at the track and the jockey's 0% from 17 rides are both negatives.
Mr MacphistoKTB Fit 46/100
Mr Macphisto is a fair 10-year-old who has shown little spark in recent runs and now steps up in trip having been well held over shorter. He has placed on good ground but is unproven at this distance and makes his first appearance at Killarney. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate here from 73 runs adds little confidence.
Lake OkeechobeeKTB Fit 46/100
Lake Okeechobee is a fair performer who has shown some promise on his last two starts after a poor debut. He has already placed at this trip and the step back up in distance looks a positive. The trainer has a modest 6% strike rate at Killarney from a big sample while the jockey has a solid 15% record at the track from 20 rides.
Ballinvasas BestKTB Fit 43/100
Ballinvasas Best is a fair sort who has shown only modest form in recent starts and failed to complete last time. He has tried this trip twice without success and the small overall sample makes going preferences hard to pin down. The jockey has a 0% strike rate from 17 rides at Killarney while the trainer has no recorded runs here.
Coup d'EssayKTB Fit 41/100
Coup d'Essay is a fair performer who has struggled since finishing seventh in a handicap hurdle at Cork last summer and was pulled up on his most recent start. He makes his first appearance at Killarney today and has shown nothing on good ground in one previous run. The trainer has a modest 6% strike rate from 216 runs here while the jockey is still seeking his first winner from eight rides at the track.
The Border BoyKTB Fit 38/100
The Border Boy is a modest performer who has failed to place in two runs at this track. He drops back in trip today having been well held over further last time, though he is 0-4 at this distance already. The trainer has a solid 9% strike-rate here from a decent-sized sample.
WhatyouwantKTB Fit 37/100
Whatyouwant is a fair performer on his best days but has been out of form for most of this year and showed little spark when seventh last time. He has never won or placed on good ground from seven attempts and drops back in trip today having failed to make an impact at this distance in four previous runs. The trainer has too small a sample at Killarney to judge while the jockey operates at a 6% strike rate here from 36 rides.
Keyser SmokesyKTB Fit 35/100
Keyser Smokesy is a fair type who has shown only modest form in seven runs to date, including a recent seventh over this course and distance. He drops back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this range. Both trainer and jockey have too few runs at Killarney to draw any firm conclusions from their local record.
DrumadeiseKTB Fit 35/100
Drumadeise is a fair maiden who has been well beaten on all five starts and was unseated last time. The yard and jockey are both 0-from-6 and 0-from-7 respectively at Killarney which adds little confidence. He has tried this trip once without success and the going remains an unknown on such limited evidence.
KTB verdict
Deise Crystal is the KTB Selection. She has shown consistent placed form this year and benefits from a trainer with a solid record at Killarney allied to a jockey who boasts an excellent 40% strike rate at the track from a small sample. While first time at Killarney and with only one previous run on good ground, her held-up style should suit the expected steadily-run race. The main dangers are Mc Swagger, who has the ability to figure if he can bounce back from recent poor efforts, and Ballindenisk, who steps up in trip but has the benefit of a trainer with a strong local record. Uptaurintop and Pure Logic also hold each-way claims if the race shape unfolds favourably.
KTB Selection Deise Crystal
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:12 UTC, 22 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Pirate Island | 25/1 | BetMGM |
| Coup d'Essay | 8/1 | BoyleSports |
This is the narrative read of the 2:35 Killarney. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Killarney racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is stepping up markedly in trip for the first time?
Ballindenisk and Silin Alainn are both stepping up markedly in trip for the first time.
Who has the strongest jockey course record among the principals?
Anna McGuinness has a 40% strike rate at Killarney with an A/E of 1.46 from 5 rides.
How many of the field have no course form on record at Killarney?
Thirteen runners have no course form on record at Killarney.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Killarney among those with significant runners?
John Joseph Murphy has an 11% strike rate at Killarney from 479 runs with an A/E of 1.19.
Which horse has already been placed over today's trip?
Lake Okeechobee has already placed at this trip.
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