2:26 Thurles
This 17-runner Boyle Sports Handicap Division One over 1m69y at Thurles on good ground brings together a field of largely limited performers. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Banshof just heading the numbers on 58 despite a modest recent record, followed closely by Medieval Night and John La Bear on 57. With no obvious front-runner in a race that lacks pace, the shape is expected to place a premium on tactical positioning and a well-timed challenge from handy spots.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lack of any natural leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy should pay dividends. Most of the field, including the top five in the KTB Fit order, are held-up types who produce their effort late, which could leave the race vulnerable to a prominent racer stealing a march. The key question is whether any horse can quicken effectively off a modest gallop or if the race will be decided by those positioned closer to the steady tempo from the outset.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Banshof KTB Selection58/100
Banshof is a limited performer who has shown very little across six starts and arrives on the back of a string of poor efforts. The Matthew J Smith yard posts an 18% strike rate at Thurles from 17 runs with an A/E of 1.97, which offers some encouragement. Trip and ground both remain questions given the small sample of just two runs on good going with no win or place. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is drawn in stall five in a race where being handy may count. As the KTB Selection he is taken to find the required improvement in a modest event.
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2Medieval Night57/100
Medieval Night is a limited performer who has been consistent enough to place in two of his last six starts but has not won in 18 runs. He drops back to 1m today having failed to score in nine previous attempts at the distance and makes his first appearance at Thurles. The Denis Gerard Hogan yard has a 9% strike rate here from 250 runs while jockey J M Sheridan holds a 12% strike rate at the track from 17 rides with an A/E of 1.86. Usually held up and producing his effort late from stall three, he has been placed twice from six runs on good ground without winning.
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3John La Bear57/100
John La Bear is a limited performer who won a 1m maiden on this ground last year but has struggled since, finishing well beaten on his last three starts. Dropping back from 1m2f today should suit having scored over the trip before, though he is 0 from 4 on good ground. The Ross O'Sullivan yard records a modest 8% strike rate at Thurles from 73 runs while jockey Donagh O'Connor is making his first appearance here but holds a 17% strike rate at the venue from six rides with an A/E of 3.16. Usually held up and producing his effort late from a wide draw in stall 17.
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4The Blue Panther56/100
The Blue Panther is a limited performer who has been placed a couple of times this year but has otherwise struggled to make an impact from 50 career starts. He has won on good ground and at this trip though the bare figures show only modest strike rates on both. First time at Thurles for both horse and trainer Aidan Melia, whose overall record at the track is 0% from 18 runs. Usually held up and producing his effort late from stall nine, he is ridden by the 5 lb claimer Reese Holohan as part of a 30% trainer-jockey combination with an A/E of 2.30.
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5Starflow54/100
Starflow has shown steady improvement and is in decent form having won two of his last three starts, including at this trip. He has already won on good ground from a single run and the Henry de Bromhead yard has a solid 13% strike rate at Thurles from 384 runs. That said he remains limited on the figures and still has to prove himself in this higher grade. Usually held up and producing his effort late from stall eight with medium confidence in that run-style, he is ridden by the 7 lb claimer Conor Cusack as part of an 18% trainer-jockey combination with an A/E of 2.07.
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6La Tulipe Noire52/100
La Tulipe Noire is a limited performer who has shown very little in recent starts and finished a remote 12th on her only previous visit to Thurles. She has failed to place in a dozen runs on good ground and the wide draw in stall 14 adds to the difficulties while the trainer holds a modest 5% strike rate at the track from 37 runs.
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7Cisterna50/100
Cisterna is a limited performer who has been out of the frame in four of his last five starts and looks stretched by this trip for the first time today. He has shown a bit of ability on good ground with a win and two places from eight runs but his overall record of 19 starts without a victory underlines his modest level while the yard has a modest 5% strike rate at Thurles from 179 runs.
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8Imperial Dream48/100
Imperial Dream is a limited performer who has been out of form for most of this year but showed a bit more when second at the Curragh last time. Stepping up to a mile for the first time today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at the trip, the trainer has a 10% strike rate at Thurles from 369 runs.
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9Free Solo46/100
Free Solo is a modest performer with a solid record on good ground including two wins from ten starts. Stepping up to a trip he has won over before though his recent form has been ordinary, the trainer has a 0% strike rate from eight runs at Thurles while this is the horse's first visit to the track.
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10Cause I Like You43/100
Cause I Like You is a limited performer who has shown a bit of consistency this year without progressing much. Has a win and two places from four runs on good ground and has also won over today's trip though the bare form remains modest while the trainer is still seeking a first Thurles winner from 14 attempts and the wide draw adds another negative.
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11Swing Street43/100
Swing Street has shown very little in four starts with a string of poor efforts. He is dropping back in trip to a distance he has never tried which asks a fresh question of this limited performer while the trainer has a 0% strike rate from five runs at Thurles.
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12Monocle Rocket42/100
Monocle Rocket is a limited performer who has shown little so far, finishing no better than fifth in five starts. The step up to a mile today asks a fresh question while the draw in stall one could prove handy though both trainer and jockey have too few runs at Thurles for any meaningful read.
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13Survivor's Code42/100
Survivor's Code is a limited performer who has struggled since early wins last season and arrives here on a long losing run. Has shown little at this track or on good ground and steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact over this distance before while the trainer is still waiting for a first Thurles winner from five previous runners.
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14Steppinoncats40/100
Steppinoncats is a limited performer on the evidence of three modest runs to date. Dropping back in trip to 1m poses a fresh question while the trainer has only one run at Thurles so far which is too small a sample to judge.
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15Mogwli39/100
Mogwli is a limited performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He has won on this ground and at today's trip but only 1 win from 13 runs on good shows he needs things to fall right while the trainer has a modest 6% strike rate at Thurles from 18 runs.
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16Miss Ivor36/100
Miss Ivor has shown little in nine starts with a string of modest efforts and carries the limited tag on ratings. The trainer has failed to land a winner from six runs at Thurles while the filly herself has been beaten on both previous attempts at this trip and on good ground with this first run here adding another unknown.
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17Gilts36/100
Gilts is a limited performer on the balance of six runs and has been beaten a long way on her last two starts. She steps up in trip today to a distance she has never tried which asks a fresh question of her while the yard has only had two runners at Thurles so the sample is too small to judge.
KTB verdict
Banshof tops the KTB Fit ratings and is the selection in a race full of modest operators where the absence of an obvious leader makes tactical positioning critical. The selection's trainer has a strong record at Thurles and the horse is drawn to be handy enough in a steadily-run affair despite his held-up style. Medieval Night, John La Bear and The Blue Panther look the main dangers on recent consistency and yard form, while Starflow brings the best recent winning form but must prove himself in this higher grade.
KTB Selection Banshof
This is the narrative read of the 2:26 Thurles. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Thurles racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Thurles results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why is the race expected to be tactical?
The pace shape lacks a leader with medium confidence, meaning it is likely to be a steadily-run affair where being handy pays.
Which horses are suited by a hold-up style in this field?
The top five principals plus the majority of the rest are held-up types who usually produce their effort late, with high or medium confidence noted for most.
What is the trainer's record at Thurles for the selection Banshof?
Matthew J Smith has an 18% strike rate at Thurles with an A/E of 1.97 from 17 runs.
Has any horse in the field won over this trip on good ground?
Starflow has won at this trip and on good ground from one run, while The Blue Panther, Free Solo, Cause I Like You and Mogwli have also won at the trip or on the surface though with modest strike rates.
Which runner has the strongest jockey course record at Thurles among the principals?
Donagh O'Connor has a 17% strike rate at Thurles from six rides with an A/E of 3.16 when riding for Ross O'Sullivan on John La Bear.
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