2:10 Tramore
This 2m maiden hurdle at Tramore on yielding ground brings together a field of nine with very limited overall form and plenty of unknowns regarding trip, surface and course. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by a pair on 51, reflecting a race where modest ability is the standard and any spark of improvement could prove decisive. With no obvious leader in a steadily-run, tactical affair, the ability to be handy and produce a late effort looks advantageous.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lack of any natural front-runner, pointing to a steadily-run race in which being on the speed or handy will pay dividends. Most of the field, including the top four in the KTB rankings, prefer to be held up and produce their effort late, which could lead to a bunching of runners turning in. The key question is whether any horse can quicken off this modest gallop or whether the race will be decided by one of the more prominent runners stealing a march in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Asthelightdeclines KTB Selection51/100
Asthelightdeclines is a fair performer who has shown little spark in three runs this year after a break. He has been beaten a long way on his last two starts and has failed to place in three attempts at this trip. The trainer has a 12% strike rate from 184 runs at Tramore while the jockey also operates at a 12% strike rate here. Usually held up and producing its effort late, he will need to find more from an OR of 89 if he is to take advantage of the tactical nature of the race. The selection comes into this with recent form figures of B77-6.
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2Roll It Roisin51/100
Roll It Roisin is a fair performer who has struggled to make an impact in four runs this year, finishing no better than fifth. The drop back to an untested 2m trip poses a fresh question. The trainer has a solid 11% strike rate from 80 runs at Tramore though the jockey's 5% strike rate at the track is less encouraging. Usually held up and producing its effort late, this 5-year-old will need to improve markedly on recent form figures of -57050 to play a part. With an OR of 83 he is closely matched on paper with the selection.
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3Sycamore Cove50/100
Sycamore Cove is a lightly raced 4-year-old with poor recent form of 9P-0 and only three career runs. He drops back in trip to 2m having been unsuccessful at the distance before, while first-time headgear is now applied. The trainer has a modest 7% strike rate from 14 runs at Tramore though the jockey's 10% strike rate here offers some hope. Usually held up and producing its effort late, this unproven performer on yielding ground will need the new headgear to spark significant improvement if he is to feature. His modest profile leaves him with plenty to find.
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4Dusky Night44/100
Dusky Night has shown mixed form in three completed starts, finishing third twice but pulled up on the other occasion. He drops back in trip today having last run over further, though he has tried this distance once without success. The trainer holds a 12% strike rate at Tramore from 49 runs. Typically settling in midfield, he brings recent form figures of 3P3-68 and remains unproven on yielding ground. With an OR of 89 he is on a par with the selection but needs to show more consistency.
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5Llem's44/100
Llem's is lightly raced with just two starts and an 8F on debut last season so very little to go on. Gordon Elliott has a solid 15% strike rate from 513 runs at Tramore and Jack Kennedy takes the ride but the drop back to an untried 2m trip asks a fresh question of this horse.
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6Grace's Legacy42/100
Grace's Legacy is a fair maiden who has failed to win in seven starts and showed only modest form on her most recent efforts. She steps up in trip today having been unsuccessful in five previous attempts at this distance while the yard's modest 3% strike rate at Tramore offers little encouragement. The lightly-raced profile means her suitability for the going remains unknown.
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7Matilauna39/100
Matilauna is a fair performer who has struggled to make an impact in recent starts, finishing no better than sixth in four completed outings before pulling up last time. The drop back to 2m is an unknown at this stage, while first-time headgear is now fitted in a bid to spark improvement. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from seven runs at Tramore.
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8Ddakji38/100
Ddakji has shown very little in three runs to date, finishing well beaten on both completed starts. He has twice tried this trip without getting competitive and the small sample makes it impossible to gauge whether the yielding ground or Tramore itself will suit. With such a modest profile and limited data overall this looks like another tough ask.
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9Ooksoo34/100
Ooksoo is a fair 12-year-old with a lightly-raced profile that leaves plenty to work out. He showed placed form over further last year but has been pulled up twice since and now drops back to an untried 2m trip. Trainer and jockey both have too few runs at Tramore for any meaningful read while the small overall sample makes going and overall ability hard to pin down.
KTB verdict
Asthelightdeclines is the KTB Selection in a race where so many runners bring limited recent form and multiple unknowns. A fair performer on his day, he has the benefit of a respected trainer-jockey combination at Tramore even if his recent efforts have been lacklustre. The main dangers are likely to come from Roll It Roisin, who has a solid yard record at the track, and Sycamore Cove if the first-time headgear can unlock improvement from his light profile. Dusky Night cannot be entirely dismissed on his best efforts but consistency remains an issue.
KTB Selection Asthelightdeclines
This is the narrative read of the 2:10 Tramore. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Tramore racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Tramore results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why has first-time headgear been fitted to Sycamore Cove and Matilauna?
Both horses bring poor recent form, with Sycamore Cove on 9P-0 from just three runs and Matilauna having finished no better than sixth before being pulled up last time.
Which horses are unproven on yielding ground?
Roll It Roisin, Sycamore Cove, Dusky Night, Llem's and Grace's Legacy have no runs on yielding, while Asthelightdeclines, Matilauna, Ddakji and Ooksoo have limited or no success on the surface.
How does the trainer strike rate at Tramore compare between the top two in the KTB Fit Scores?
Gavin Cromwell has a 12% strike rate from 184 runs at Tramore for Asthelightdeclines, while David Harry Kelly has an 11% strike rate from 80 runs for Roll It Roisin.
What run-styles dominate the field and how does this align with the pace shape?
The majority of runners, including the top four principals, are held up and produce their effort late, which fits with a steadily-run tactical affair where being handy pays in the absence of an obvious leader.
Which trainer has the strongest record at Tramore among those represented?
Gordon Elliott has a 15% strike rate from 513 runs at Tramore for Llem's, the highest of any trainer in the field.
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