3:34 Clonmel
This 2m3f145y mares handicap hurdle at Clonmel on good ground features a field of 12 where the KTB Fit Scores point to a competitive but unflashy contest. The top two principals, Sallap and Courtmac Gesture, both carry an OR of 102 and head the numbers, while the race overall lacks depth with several modest performers and fair types making up the rest of the card. With the KTB numbers highlighting course form and recent consistency for the leading contenders, the outcome is likely to hinge on which horse handles the steadily-run conditions best.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lack of any obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay dividends. Most of the field, including all five principals, are held-up types who produce their effort late, so the race is expected to develop into a test of timing from off the pace. The key question is whether any horse can make smooth headway in a race that may not be run to suit those coming from the rear, or if the principals can overcome that shared run-style in a tactical contest.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Sallap KTB Selection65/100
Sallap is a useful sort who has won two of his three starts at Clonmel and arrives in decent nick judged on recent form figures of 011552. He drops back in trip today having last run over 2m5f, though he has been beaten on his only previous try at this distance. The trainer holds a solid 11% strike rate from 80 runs at the track while the jockey is aboard. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need the steadily-run race to unfold in his favour. With an OR of 102 and a course record of two wins from three starts, he holds strong claims on these terms.
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2Courtmac Gesture60/100
Courtmac Gesture is a useful performer who has shown consistent form here, finishing third on his only completed run at Clonmel. He steps back up to this trip having already tried it once without success, though he remains competitive on good ground where he has placed once from two starts. The yard records a 6% strike rate from 16 runs at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be looking to come from off the pace in a steadily-run affair. Rated 102 and with placed form at the course, he is one of the main dangers to the selection.
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3Golden Wings56/100
Golden Wings is a useful performer who has not really built on an early promise shown when third on debut. Recent form has been poor with three modest efforts this season after a long absence. Gordon Elliott has a solid 19% strike rate at Clonmel from a big sample while Jack Kennedy is aboard. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need things to fall right in a tactical race. With an OR of 100 but no course form and no win or place from three runs on good ground, he needs to show more.
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4Mount Shenshan54/100
Mount Shenshan is a fair sort who has won once from five runs at Clonmel. He drops back in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning, though he is yet to place in five runs on good ground. The trainer holds a 10% strike rate from 159 runs at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will be coming from off the pace in what is likely to be a steadily-run contest. Rated 85 with a course win to his name, he cannot be entirely dismissed.
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5Crossbar Getaway49/100
Crossbar Getaway is a useful performer who has shown some promise at this track with a second on one of two visits. Drops back in trip today having last run over further and that distance switch remains an unknown. Trainer has a 0% strike rate from 21 runs at Clonmel while the horse is 0-3 on good ground. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence in that assessment, he will need the race to develop favourably. Rated 102 and with placed course form, he enters the equation.
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6Mia In Milan49/100
Mia In Milan is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and race history. Recent efforts have been modest though and she steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question. Trainer has an 8% strike rate from 116 runs at Clonmel.
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7Eaglewood48/100
Eaglewood is a useful performer on his best days and arrives with solid recent ratings to back that up. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 12 runs at Clonmel while the horse himself has never won or placed in five runs on good ground. He steps up in trip today for the first time which remains an open question.
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8Misty Cove47/100
Misty Cove is a useful performer who has shown steady placed form this year without winning. Steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question of him while the switch to Clonmel is also new. Trainer has a solid 13 percent strike rate here from a big sample.
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9Demanding Gerry46/100
Demanding Gerry is a fair performer who has placed over this trip without winning and showed his best effort here when runner-up on his only visit to Clonmel. He has been patchy of late and the yard is still searching for its first winner from 21 runs at the track. Placed once from eight starts on good ground so the surface should be fine.
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10Feet On The Ground43/100
Feet On The Ground is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this season with a recent pulled-up effort. Steps up in trip having failed to trouble the judge in four previous attempts at this distance and holds no record on good ground from seven starts. Trainer has only a small sample at Clonmel while the jockey is making his first ride at the track.
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11Princess Felicia41/100
Princess Felicia is a fair mare who has shown her best form at this track with a placed effort from two runs. She drops back in trip today having last run over two and a half miles and is proven on good ground with one win and two places from two starts. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate from 111 runs at Clonmel is a negative.
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12Tasmanian Girl35/100
Tasmanian Girl is a fair mare who has been largely out of form this season with a string of modest efforts. She has run just once at Clonmel when well beaten and steps up in trip today having shown little at around this distance before. The trainer holds a 12 percent strike rate at the track while the jockey is 0-8 here.
KTB verdict
Sallap stands out as the KTB Selection. A useful sort with two wins from three starts at Clonmel, he arrives in decent nick and the trainer's solid record at the track adds to his appeal, even with the drop back in trip. His ability to produce a late effort in a steadily-run race should suit the shape, and he holds the best combination of course form and recent figures. The main dangers are Courtmac Gesture, who has shown consistent form at the track, and Golden Wings if he can recapture his early promise under the Elliott-Kennedy combination.
KTB Selection Sallap
This is the narrative read of the 3:34 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 horse has the best course record at Clonmel?
Sallap has won two of his three starts at Clonmel.
How many of the principals are held-up types?
All five principals are held up, usually producing their effort late.
What is Gordon Elliott's strike rate at Clonmel?
Gordon Elliott has a 19% strike rate at Clonmel from 515 runs.
Which horse is dropping back in trip after a run over 2m5f?
Sallap is dropping back in trip after his last run over 2m5f.
What is the pace shape for this race?
Lacks a leader with medium confidence, likely a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
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