5:35 Clonmel
The Camida Gold Champion Handicap at Clonmel on 16 September 2026 brings together a field of ten for this 1m1f168y contest on good to yielding ground. The KTB Fit ratings point to a competitive affair with Lough Leane heading the numbers on 62, followed by Expound on 58 and Satono Chevalier on 55, while the remainder sit in the low-to-mid 50s and below. Recent form is mixed across the group, with several runners dropping in trip or making their first appearance at the track, and the overall picture suggests a race where proven ability on the surface and late closing pace could prove decisive.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, driven by two or more habitual front-runners including Expound and Areana. This is likely to set the race up for hold-up performers, as the pace could collapse in the later stages and favour those producing their effort from off the speed. The key question is whether the prominent runners can sustain their effort or if the race will fall into the lap of the hold-up horses drawn towards the outer stalls. Several runners, including the selection, are noted for racing in rear and striking late, which aligns well with the expected shape.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Lough Leane KTB Selection62/100
Lough Leane is a fair sort with a solid recent record that includes two wins from his last six starts. He handles today's good to yielding ground, having won once and placed once from two runs on it, and he has also won at this trip in the past. The first run at Clonmel is taken as neutral while the jockey's small sample here leaves that side unproven. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well suited by the likely strong pace that could collapse. The trainer has no Clonmel record but operates at 15% from 20 runs overall, and the jockey has a 0% strike rate at the track from two rides with an A/E of 0. With a KTB Fit of 62 he tops the numbers in a race where his ability to come from off the pace looks a major asset.
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2Expound58/100
Expound is a modest performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and also has three wins from ten starts at today's trip. He drops back from 1m4f which should suit, though he has failed to place in seven runs on good to yielding ground. The trainer operates at a 10% strike rate here while the jockey has been more effective with a 29% record from 14 rides and an A/E of 2.39. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is one of the horses likely to set the strong pace that the race shape anticipates. With a KTB Fit of 58 he is the second highest rated and his course record gives him a clear foothold in the contest despite his record on the surface.
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3Satono Chevalier55/100
Satono Chevalier is a fair sort who has won on good to yielding ground and at today's trip. He arrives in decent form having landed two of his last six starts and now drops back from 1m5f. The first run at Clonmel is neutral while both trainer and jockey have very limited experience here, the trainer showing a 0% strike rate from two runs with an A/E of 0. Usually held up and producing his effort late with medium confidence, he should be suited by the expected strong pace. With a KTB Fit of 55 he remains firmly in the mix and his ability on the ground and at the trip makes him one of the main dangers to the selection.
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4Solomon Coop53/100
Solomon Coop is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time and finished well beaten on his only previous run on good to yielding ground. He drops back in trip to a distance at which he has won once from one attempt, though he is making his first appearance at Clonmel. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate from 73 runs here with an A/E of 0.64 while the jockey has no recorded rides at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he will be looking to benefit if the strong pace collapses. His KTB Fit of 53 places him in the lower half of the principals and recent form leaves him with plenty to prove.
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5Earthwatch49/100
Earthwatch is a modest performer who has been well below form this year and was beaten 20 lengths when last of 14 on his recent return at this track. He drops back from 2m but has never won in four starts at this trip and his sole previous run on good to yielding ground brought no joy. The trainer has a 10% strike rate from 183 runs at Clonmel with an A/E of 1 while the jockey has no recorded rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he could be well placed if the race falls apart late on. His KTB Fit of 49 reflects a difficult task on current form despite the yard's respectable record at the venue.
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6A Pretty Penny44/100
A Pretty Penny is a modest performer who has shown enough to win twice on this sort of good-to-yielding ground from just two starts. She drops back in trip having last run over a mile and a half, though she has already won at today's distance. The trainer has only one run at Clonmel so far while the jockey has none recorded here. Usually held up and producing her effort late with high confidence, her KTB Fit of 44 leaves her towards the foot of the ratings.
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7Areana43/100
Areana is a modest performer who has won twice on turf this year but has looked below form on her last two starts. She steps up in trip today having failed to fire over 1m1f last time and her sole previous try at this distance brought no joy. The trainer has a modest 14% strike-rate at Clonmel from a small sample with an A/E of 0.5 while the 7lb claimer has yet to ride a winner here. Tending to make the running or race on the pace with medium confidence, her KTB Fit of 43 suggests she faces an uphill task.
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8Femme Beauty43/100
Femme Beauty is a modest performer who has been in and out of form this year with three wins from 18 starts. She has won twice at today's trip from four attempts and has been competitive on good to yielding ground without winning. The trainer's modest 3% strike rate at Clonmel from 30 runs with an A/E of 0.38 is a negative while the jockey has had too few rides here to judge. Typically settling in midfield with medium confidence, her KTB Fit of 43 places her in the lower half of the field.
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9Quatre Bras41/100
Quatre Bras is a modest performer who has been consistent enough without winning in recent starts. He drops back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this distance and with only one run on good to yielding ground he remains unproven on the surface. The trainer has a solid 20% strike rate at Clonmel with an A/E of 1.88 while the jockey's 9% record from 121 rides here with an A/E of 0.8 is more modest. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, his KTB Fit of 41 leaves him with work to do.
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10Sinbad My Dad37/100
Sinbad My Dad is a modest performer with a long record of mid-pack finishes and only one placing in the last six starts. He has run just once at Clonmel and once on good to yielding ground, neither producing a win or place. Dropping back in trip today with first-time headgear, the yard's modest 5% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.7 offers little encouragement. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, his KTB Fit of 37 makes him the lowest rated in the field.
KTB verdict
Lough Leane is the KTB Selection. He brings a fair level of ability, a solid recent record with two wins from his last six starts, and proven effectiveness on good to yielding ground along with previous success at this trip. His held-up run-style aligns perfectly with the strong pace that is expected to test the leaders late on, and while the Clonmel debut and jockey's limited record are neutral factors they do not detract from his overall profile. The main dangers are headed by Expound, who boasts a strong course record and the speed to set the pace, along with Satono Chevalier who has similar credentials on the ground and trip but must overcome limited local experience.
KTB Selection Lough Leane
This is the narrative read of the 5:35 Clonmel. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Clonmel racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Clonmel results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are expected to set the strong pace?
Expound and Areana are the two habitual front-runners noted as likely to make the running or race on the pace.
Why does the race shape favour hold-up horses?
The strong pace with two or more front-runners is likely to collapse late, which would favour hold-up horses producing their effort from off the speed.
How many wins has Lough Leane recorded from his last six starts?
Lough Leane has recorded two wins from his last six starts.
What is Expound's record at Clonmel and at today's trip?
Expound has won twice at this track from five runs and has three wins from ten starts at today's trip.
Which runner is making its first appearance at Clonmel while dropping back to a trip it has won at previously?
Solomon Coop is making its first appearance at Clonmel while dropping back in trip to a distance at which he has won once from one attempt.
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