1:35 Clonmel
The 1:35 Crottys Lake Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel is a 2m0f205y contest run on good ground with a field of 14. A genuinely-run race is expected, with a front-runner likely to be pressed by several handy types in what should prove a fair test. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, headed by World As One on 61, just ahead of Ozark Daze on 60, with the remainder of the field showing more modest readings.
How the race shapes up
With a front-runner expected to be pressed by several prominent racers, the pace shape points to a genuinely-run affair that will ask serious questions of stamina and positioning. World As One and Ozark Daze are both prominent types who should be on or close to the early lead, while Detroit Maverick has a high-confidence front-running style that could see him set the fractions. The key question is whether the prominent horses can maintain their effort in a race that looks likely to be truly-run from the start, or if any of the held-up runners can pick up the pieces late.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1World As One KTB Selection61/100
World As One arrives with the highest KTB Fit Score of 61 and is the clear selection. A smart performer, he has shown consistent placed form this season, including a second here over further. He drops back to a trip at which he has already been placed without winning. The Mullins yard posts a 27% strike rate at Clonmel from 805 runs, comfortably above its 21% at other tracks, and Paul Townend takes the ride with his own 23% record at the venue from 252 rides. He has been placed on two of five starts on good ground and was second on his only previous visit to Clonmel. Half-brother to Grade 2 winner Colonel Mustard, he comes from a dam who has produced six other runners including three winners.
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2Ozark Daze60/100
Ozark Daze is rated just behind the selection on a KTB Fit Score of 60. He has shown only moderate form, highlighted by a recent sixth, and now drops back in trip to 2m for the first time, which poses a fresh question. The horse remains competitive on good ground, having placed four times from ten starts, though he still lacks a win on it. Trainer Gearoid O'Loughlin holds a 27% strike rate at Clonmel from 11 runs, while jockey Ricky Doyle is making his first appearance at the track. With no course form on record, he will need to improve on what he has shown so far to play a major part.
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3Little An Often52/100
Little An Often is on a KTB Fit Score of 52. He has shown little in two starts so far, finishing eighth on both occasions. The Mark Fahey yard records a 9% strike rate at Clonmel from 35 runs, in line with their 10% at other tracks, while claiming jockey Thomas O'Connor has a 20% record here from a small sample of five rides. With only two career runs, a dam whose other four foals have failed to win, and a step up in trip that remains untested, this is very much a watching brief. He is held up in his racing style and has no course form on record.
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4Ilen's Dream52/100
Ilen's Dream also carries a KTB Fit Score of 52. Lightly raced with just a single run behind him that came in modest form, he represents trainer Gearoid O'Loughlin who has a 27% strike rate at Clonmel from 11 runs. The trip is a fresh question today and the dam has produced just one other non-winning runner. He is held up in his racing, though with limited evidence, and has no course form or experience on good ground. Jockey Aidan Kelly has a 5% strike rate at the track from 43 rides.
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5Minella Maverick50/100
Minella Maverick is assessed on a KTB Fit Score of 50. Lightly raced after just one run and with low data confidence, this assessment must be read with caution. The John Patrick Ryan yard records a 9% strike rate at Clonmel from 267 runs, in line with their 6% at other courses. Half-brother to Diplomatic Ash who won three times from 19 starts, he is dropping back in trip today to one he has never tried. A held-up type with limited evidence, he has no course form and showed no win or place on his sole start on good ground.
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6Bishop Of Rome49/100
Bishop Of Rome is a debutant for Henry de Bromhead who has an 18% strike rate at Clonmel from 423 runs, above their 13% at other tracks. Half-brother to Lost In Montmartre and from a dam who has produced two winners from three other runners, he has only one piece of recent form and no official rating so the assessment stays tentative.
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7Detroit Maverick49/100
Detroit Maverick has shown steady placed form on his last three starts and is placed at today's trip, though he was only fifth on his sole visit to Clonmel. A front-runner with high-confidence run style, he is unproven on good ground and is a half-brother to two non-winners from the dam. Gordon Elliott has a 19% strike rate at the track from 521 runs.
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8Cayo Pirata45/100
Cayo Pirata has only three career runs and no recent form shown, so the picture is very limited. The trip is a fresh question after racing over 1m2f last time, while the dam has produced one other non-winner. Trainer has no runs recorded at Clonmel and data confidence is low.
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9City Of Cork45/100
City Of Cork is lightly raced with just three runs and no official rating yet so read this one with caution. He showed fair placed form on debut before two lesser efforts and now tries first-time headgear. Trainer Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a 14% strike rate at Clonmel from 141 runs which sits in line with his overall record. A held-up type.
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10Ballyteigue Bay44/100
Ballyteigue Bay has shown some ability on this track with a placing over the trip on his only visit. He has been placed once in four runs at today's distance and is a half-brother to dual winner Devona from a dam who has produced three winners from four other runners. The trainer operates at a 7% strike rate here which is in line with their 5% at other courses. A mid-division runner.
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11Rond Point43/100
Rond Point has shown some promise in two completed starts this year, finishing second on debut before two respectable efforts in maiden hurdles. He now drops back in trip to 2m having last run over 2m4f, which asks a fresh question of him. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 14 runs at Clonmel. A prominent racer who has been competitive without winning on good ground.
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12Ddakji41/100
Ddakji has shown very little in four starts so far with a string of modest efforts including a latest ninth. He steps back up to 2m today having failed to make an impact at the trip last time and now tries first-time headgear. The yard has only one run at Clonmel which is too small a sample to judge. A held-up type who is unproven on good ground.
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13George Dundee40/100
George Dundee is lightly raced with just one run in the last year and overall small-sample form that reads 57-510. The yard has a 17% strike rate at Clonmel from 115 runs, which is above their 9% at other tracks. A full brother to George's Lad who won twice from 11 starts, though the trip has produced no success from his single attempt so far. A held-up runner who is unproven on good ground.
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14The Yellow Capri39/100
The Yellow Capri is lightly raced with just one run in the last year and a small overall sample. The yard's 5% strike rate at Clonmel is in line with their record elsewhere. Out of the same dam as Rob The Getaway and from a dam who has produced three winners from seven runners to race, he is a held-up type with limited evidence and is unproven on good ground.
KTB verdict
World As One stands out as the KTB Selection. A smart performer with consistent placed form this season, including a second here over further, he drops back to a trip at which he has already been placed. The combination of the Mullins/Townend team, with their strong records at Clonmel, gives him a clear edge. His main dangers are Ozark Daze, who is competitive on good ground and drops back in trip, and Detroit Maverick, who brings steady placed form and a front-running style. The remainder of the field largely lack the same level of form or have significant questions to answer.
KTB Selection World As One
This is the narrative read of the 1:35 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. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Clonmel racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest placed form at Clonmel itself?
World As One, who finished second here on his only visit to the track.
How does the prominent pace influence the expected shape?
A front-runner is likely to be pressed by several handy types in what is a genuinely-run, fair test.
Which runner is making its racecourse debut?
Bishop Of Rome, a half-brother to Lost In Montmartre from a dam who has produced two winners from three other runners.
Who is wearing first-time headgear?
City Of Cork and Ddakji.
Which horse is a full brother to a dual winner?
George Dundee, full brother to George's Lad who won twice from 11 starts.
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