3:25 Cork
The 3:25 at Cork is a 20-runner 0-70 handicap over six furlongs on yielding to soft ground. A field of limited performers with modest recent form overall, the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, topped by El Fontenaro on 61. Most runners are held-up types and the pace shape indicates no obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical race in which a prominent position could prove advantageous.
How the race shapes up
With no confirmed front-runner in the field and the majority of runners tending to be held up, the early pace is likely to be modest. The race should develop into a steadily-run affair in which being handy or timing a late run from just off the pace will be key. The central question is whether any horse can overcome the tactical disadvantage of coming from the rear in a race that may not unfold quickly enough for big closers.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1El Fontenaro KTB Selection61/100
El Fontenaro is a limited performer who has won once over this trip and once at Cork from limited attempts. His recent form has been solid, with two wins in the last five starts, though he has failed to place in two runs on this type of ground. The four-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Jarlath P Fahey and R P Whelan both operate at a 9% strike rate at Cork, the trainer with an A/E of 1.24 from 118 runs and the jockey with an A/E of 0.96 from 376 rides. He has won here once from four starts and the trainer-jockey combination shows a 32/278 (12%) record with an A/E of 1.25.
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2Carrigans Grove58/100
Carrigans Grove is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time and finished no better than seventh on his last four starts. He has shown some ability at this track with a second-place finish here previously but remains unproven on yielding to soft ground. The five-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Patrick J Flynn has a 7% strike rate at Cork with an A/E of 0.77 from 612 runs, while Robyn Donaghue-Leahy has a 15% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.6 from 13 rides. The trainer-jockey partnership records 18/175 (10%) with an A/E of 1.13. He has won at this trip in the past and the step back up to 6f is worth a look.
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3Hastily56/100
Hastily is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He has won twice at Cork from five runs and the trainer has a solid 13% strike rate here with an A/E of 3.14 from 23 runs. The seven-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Shay Wallace has a 25% strike rate at Cork from a small sample of four rides with an A/E of 4.91. He drops back to 6f having last run over 1m2f, while his one run on yielding to soft ground brought no win or place.
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4Brains51/100
Brains is a limited 10-year-old with a lengthy career behind him and recent form that has been no better than modest. He drops back to an untried 6f for the first time while making his first appearance at Cork. The son of Acclamation is held up, though with medium confidence in that assessment. R Donohoe has a 5% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.73 from 118 runs, offset by Sam Coen's 15% strike rate from 20 rides with an A/E of 1.29. The trainer-jockey combination shows 1/10 (10%) with an A/E of 0.93. He has been placed once from three runs on yielding to soft ground.
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5Pansy Poe51/100
Pansy Poe is a limited performer who has shown some ability at this track, finishing third and fifth from two runs here. She steps up from 5f to 6f having been placed once at the longer distance without winning, though her sole run on yielding to soft ground brought no joy. The five-year-old is held up and usually produces her effort late. Mark Fahey holds a solid 13% strike rate at Cork with an A/E of 1.45 from 64 runs, while Reese Holohan is still seeking a first win from five rides at the track with an A/E of 0. The trainer-jockey partnership records 2/48 (4%) with an A/E of 0.42.
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6Jordan Breeze50/100
Jordan Breeze is a limited performer who has won once from three starts at Cork. Recent form has been patchy and the step up from 5f to 6f asks a fresh question while he remains unproven on yielding to soft ground. Patrick J Flynn has a 7% strike rate at Cork with an A/E of 0.77 from 612 runs and Alan Persse operates at a 2% strike rate from 46 rides with an A/E of 0.51. The trainer-jockey combination shows 5/123 (4%) with an A/E of 0.73.
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7Ukiyo48/100
Ukiyo is a limited horse who has been around the block 18 times in the last year with a string of modest efforts. He did win here over 5f on his only previous visit to Cork and has scored once at today's 6f trip, but he steps up in distance on yielding to soft ground having failed to place in his only run on similar going. Andrew Kinirons has a 10% strike rate from 21 runs at Cork and Robbie Colgan operates at 4% from 287 rides with an A/E of 0.69. The trainer-jockey partnership records 5/47 (11%) with an A/E of 1.59.
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8Run Forrest Run47/100
Run Forrest Run is a limited performer who has won twice at Cork from six runs and also has three wins at this trip from 25 attempts. Recent form of 80-780 is modest and the yard's 7% strike-rate at the track from 14 runners is no better than fair. Laura Hourigan and W M Lordan combine with a 1/6 (17%) record. He remains unproven on yielding to soft ground.
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9Verified47/100
Verified is a limited performer who has shown his best form at this track with two seconds and a third from four runs here. He has been out of the frame in his last three starts and remains unproven on yielding to soft ground. Gerard Keane and G F Carroll both operate at modest strike rates at Cork, the trainer with a 6% record from 87 runs and the jockey with a 7% record from 343 rides. The trainer-jockey combination shows 1/40 (3%) with an A/E of 0.31.
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10Linger For Longer45/100
Linger For Longer is a limited class performer who has won once from 12 starts at Cork and is 2 from 2 when placed on yielding to soft ground. He drops back to 6f today having won twice at the trip from 14 attempts though his recent form of 0-0400 is modest. Augustine Leahy has a 5% strike rate from 402 runs at the track while W J Lee has a solid 15% strike rate from 645 rides here. The trainer-jockey partnership records 1/40 (3%) with an A/E of 0.46.
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11Surpass And Shine45/100
Surpass And Shine is a limited performer who has shown very little spark in recent starts and sits on a long losing run. He has placed once from three runs at Cork but that was some time ago and both trainer and jockey have modest records at the track. Patrick J Flynn and Scott McCullagh combine with modest strike rates here. He steps up to 6f for the first time in a while with no experience of yielding to soft ground.
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12Simmering Seas45/100
Simmering Seas has shown consistent placed form this year including a second over 5f here last time out. He steps up to 6f for the first time today having been placed once at the trip already. Daniel James Murphy has a 5% strike rate at Cork with an A/E of 0.57 from 38 runs and Ben Coen operates at 6% from 236 rides with an A/E of 0.49. The trainer-jockey partnership records 1/15 (7%) with an A/E of 0.71. He remains unproven on yielding to soft ground.
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13Cash On Black44/100
Cash On Black has shown very little in three starts to date and remains a limited performer on the balance of what she has produced. Miss Jennifer Anne Lynch holds a 0% strike rate from ten runs at Cork while Seamie Heffernan operates at a 9% strike rate from 683 rides here. The trainer-jockey partnership records 2/21 (10%) with an A/E of 1.08. She steps up from 5f to 6f today having already been beaten twice at the new trip and the going remains an unknown with only three runs on the board.
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14Three Sixteen43/100
Three Sixteen is a limited performer who has shown very little in five starts and was well beaten on his only previous run here at Cork. He steps up to 6f for the first time today after two unsuccessful attempts at the distance already. Alan McIntyre remains without a winner from six runs at the track while Luke McAteer operates at a modest 8% strike rate from 124 rides here. The trainer-jockey partnership records 1/26 (4%) with an A/E of 0.38.
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15Akashaa40/100
Akashaa is a limited performer who has shown little spark in three runs this year and now tries Cork for the first time from a wide draw. She has placed once at this trip but remains unproven on yielding to soft ground. Miss Natalia Lupini holds a solid 17% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.21 from 36 runs while Kian McNally has no recorded rides here.
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16Aboveheronlysky40/100
Aboveheronlysky is a limited performer who has shown very little in three starts this year after a placed debut over this trip. Timothy Doyle has a modest 3% strike-rate at Cork from 397 runs with an A/E of 0.4, though Keithen Kennedy's 6% record from 33 rides is a touch more positive. The trainer-jockey partnership records no specific line beyond individual figures. Trip looks fine but the small overall sample and weak recent form leave too many questions.
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17Sand Art38/100
Sand Art is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time but did win a 6f maiden at Dundalk in December. He drops back to his winning trip today having looked stretched over 7f last time. Kevin Thomas Coleman has a modest 3% strike-rate at Cork from 102 runs and Julian Pietropaolo is still seeking a first winner from 22 rides here. The trainer-jockey partnership records 4/32 (13%) with an A/E of 1.27.
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18Alandownunder37/100
Alandownunder has shown very little in seven runs this year and remains a limited performer on his handicap form. He has failed to place in two runs at Cork and is now 0-3 at this trip. First-time headgear is reached for while both Kieran P Cotter and Patrick McGettigan have modest strike rates at the track. He has one run on yielding to soft ground that brought no win or place.
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19Sceitimini35/100
Sceitimini is a limited performer who has shown little for some time and looks up against it from a wide draw here. He has been beaten a long way on all three Cork starts and is now 0-9 overall. First-time headgear is tried as he drops back to 6f on yielding to soft ground. Rodger Sweeney has a 4% strike rate at Cork with an A/E of 0.55 from 155 runs and J M Sheridan operates at 3% from 176 rides with an A/E of 0.38.
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20Bright Image33/100
Bright Image is a limited performer who has shown little spark in five starts this year. He has been well beaten both previous runs at Cork and is unproven on yielding to soft ground while dropping back from a mile to 6f. C P Donoghue has a 3% strike rate at Cork from 39 runs and Rory Cleary operates at 5% from 343 rides here. The trainer-jockey partnership records 2/44 (5%) with an A/E of 0.72.
KTB verdict
El Fontenaro is the KTB Selection. A limited performer, he has won once over this trip and once at Cork from limited attempts, and his recent form has been solid with two wins in the last five starts. The combination of Jarlath P Fahey and R P Whelan both operating at 9% strike rates at the track adds to the appeal, and his course win is another plus. The main dangers are Carrigans Grove, who has shown ability at the track and steps back up to a trip where he has won before, and Hastily, who has won twice at Cork and is ridden by a jockey with a strong strike rate at the venue despite limited rides. Brains and Pansy Poe, both with placed form on similar ground or at the track, complete the main contenders in a race where the steadily-run nature could suit those who can time their runs well from off the pace.
KTB Selection El Fontenaro
This is the narrative read of the 3:25 Cork. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cork racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cork results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won twice at Cork and is dropping back to 6f after a run over 1m2f?
Hastily, who has a 2 from 5 record at the track and whose trainer has a 13% strike rate here.
How many wins has El Fontenaro recorded in his last five starts?
Two wins.
Which runner is first-time headgear and has been placed once at 6f without winning?
Pansy Poe, who also has placed form at Cork from two starts.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at Cork among the principals?
Mark Fahey with a 13% strike rate from 64 runs, matching Tom McGuinness on percentage but from a larger sample than some others.
Which horse is 2 from 2 when placed on yielding to soft ground?
Linger For Longer, who has also won once from 12 starts at Cork.
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