5:05 Clonmel
A competitive 19-runner handicap steeplechase over 2m4f219y on good ground at Clonmel brings together a mix of handicappers with varying degrees of course experience and recent form. The KTB Fit ratings point to a race with a clear top pick on 71, while the next four principals sit in the low-to-mid 60s and 50s, suggesting a contest where proven course performers and those stepping up in trip will be key. With a genuinely-run pace expected, the ability to race prominently without overdoing it could prove decisive in what looks a fair test.
How the race shapes up
A front-runner is likely to be pressed by several handy types in a genuinely-run race that should provide a fair test. Multiple runners with prominent or front-running styles mean the pace should be strong from early on, with those settling in mid-division or held up needing to time their efforts precisely off what is anticipated to be an honest gallop. The key question is whether the prominent racers can maintain their position without folding late, or if a stronger stayer coming from off the pace will capitalise in the closing stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Rockstown Girl KTB Selection71/100
Rockstown Girl is a useful mare who has placed three times from her last six starts and holds an official rating of 98. She steps up in trip today having already won at this distance, while first-time headgear is now tried. The trainer at Clonmel operates at a 16% strike rate from 19 runs and she has one win from 12 starts on good ground. Prominent in her racing style, she usually races handily on or close to the lead. With recent form figures of 336742 she arrives in consistent order and is the KTB Selection.
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2Mount Shenshan62/100
Mount Shenshan is a fair handicapper who has won twice from six runs at Clonmel. He steps up in trip today having been placed both starts at this distance without winning, and his record on good ground reads one win from six runs. Trainer Thomas Mullins operates at an 11% strike rate here, in line with his overall record, while Sean Cleary-Farrell is aboard with a 20% strike rate at the track from 10 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he has recent form figures of 356061. Course form gives him a clear edge among the principals.
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3Battle Of Benburb60/100
Battle Of Benburb is a fair sort who has been out of form for most of this season with a string of pulled-ups before two modest placed efforts. He has shown nothing at this track in three runs and his record on good ground is ordinary. The drop back in trip today asks a fresh question of a nine-year-old who has been running over longer. Settling typically in midfield, his recent form reads 7PP-04. The trainer has a 12% strike rate at Clonmel from 17 runs, though the jockey has no record at the venue.
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4Onefortheditch59/100
Onefortheditch is a useful performer with a solid record around this track, where he has been placed on two of his four starts. He steps up in trip today having shown placed form at this distance without winning, and he acts on good ground having been competitive on it without scoring. The trainer's 10% strike rate at Clonmel is in line with his record elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, his recent form is 6226-5. Course placings of 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 4th underline his local know-how.
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5Heroes Of Renown52/100
Heroes Of Renown is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick with two placed efforts from his last three starts. He has never won at this trip in three attempts and is making his first visit to Clonmel from a mark of 94. Trainer has a 5% strike rate here from 244 runs, in line with his record elsewhere, while the jockey has an 8% strike rate at the track from 25 rides. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, his recent form reads 6P2-33. At the age of 12 he retains plenty of ability on his best days.
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6Wing Back52/100
Wing Back is a useful performer who has failed to finish in the frame in five starts this season and was pulled up last time. Has shown nothing at this track in two runs and is yet to place at today's trip. First-time headgear is now applied.
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7Laska Du Breuil52/100
Laska Du Breuil is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a win and two solid placed efforts from his last four starts. He has no form on good ground from three attempts and steps up in trip today having failed to place in two previous tries at this distance. The yard’s 13 percent strike rate at Clonmel is in line with their record elsewhere.
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8Zolpharine51/100
Zolpharine is a fair handicapper who has been a regular at Clonmel without ever winning or placing in ten runs. He drops back in trip today having won once from four starts at this distance and holds a 2-from-15 record on good ground. The trainer's 9% strike rate at the track is in line with his overall record.
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9Thirsty Work50/100
Thirsty Work is a fair performer who has shown some spark on his last two starts, finishing second at this trip range on good ground. He steps up in distance today for the first time which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has an 11% strike rate at Clonmel from 81 runs in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey is making a first appearance at the track.
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10Sharetheknowledge48/100
Sharetheknowledge is a useful performer who has placed twice in four runs at Clonmel without winning. Drops back in trip today having failed to score in six attempts at this distance and is now 0-17 for the season. Trainer has a 0% strike rate from eight runners at the track.
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11Hit The Frame48/100
Hit The Frame is a fair performer who arrives in reasonable form after a fourth at this trip last time out. He has shown ability on good ground with a win and a placing from four starts but drops back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous tries at this distance. The trainer operates at a 6% strike rate at Clonmel from 18 runs while this is the horse's first appearance here.
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12Synchronize47/100
Synchronize is a fair performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. He showed a bit when third here over shorter on his only previous visit to Clonmel and has placed once from nine runs on good ground. The trainer's 3% strike rate at the track is in line with their record elsewhere while this step up in trip is an unknown.
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13Gortmore Lady47/100
Gortmore Lady is a fair performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the first five on four of her last six starts. Steps up in trip today having shown nothing in two previous tries at this distance. Trainer records a 5% strike rate at Clonmel from 37 runs, in line with his overall figure.
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14King's Son47/100
King's Son is a fair performer who has been generally out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. Drops back in trip having failed to make the frame in three previous tries at this distance and is making his first appearance at Clonmel. Trainer records a 9% strike rate here from 46 runs in line with his record at other tracks.
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15Mister Loolah45/100
Mister Loolah is a useful performer on his best day but arrives here with modest recent form and has yet to win in seven career starts. He showed little at this track on his only previous visit and the trainer has a 0% strike rate from nine runs at Clonmel. The trip has not brought a win or place in two attempts and the going remains an unknown.
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16Roccabaker43/100
Roccabaker is a fair performer who has shown little spark in three runs this year and was pulled up on his only previous try here. He steps up in trip today having won once from five starts at this distance but has no experience on good ground. The trainer's 4% strike rate at Clonmel from 114 runs sits in line with his record elsewhere.
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17Finnicky Filly42/100
Finnicky Filly is a modest performer who has won once from 13 starts at Clonmel. She has been out of form for some time with recent figures of 650506 and has failed to place in seven runs on good ground. The trainer holds a 9% strike rate at the track from 267 runs which sits in line with his record elsewhere while this represents a step up in trip.
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18Stily41/100
Stily is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He steps up in trip today having been placed once in three runs at the distance and is competitive on good ground from two placed efforts in five starts. The trainer has a 6% strike rate at Clonmel from 68 runs in line with his record elsewhere.
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19Without Exception40/100
Without Exception is a fair performer who has shown consistency with two placed efforts from his last five starts and holds an official rating of 80. He drops back in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on one of five attempts. The trainer’s 5% strike rate at Clonmel is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey has no recorded rides at the track and the horse is unproven on good ground.
KTB verdict
Rockstown Girl stands out as the KTB Selection. An official rating of 98, three placings from her last six starts and prior success at this trip paint a clear picture of a mare who can capitalise on the prominent run style that fits the expected pace. First-time headgear may sharpen her further, and the trainer's healthy 16% strike rate at Clonmel adds confidence. Mount Shenshan, with two course wins, and Onefortheditch, who boasts solid local placings, represent the most obvious dangers if the prominent pace collapses late.
KTB Selection Rockstown Girl
This is the narrative read of the 5:05 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 is making its first visit to Clonmel in this race?
Heroes Of Renown is making his first visit to Clonmel.
How many course wins does Mount Shenshan have at Clonmel?
Mount Shenshan has won twice from six runs at Clonmel.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Clonmel for the yard of Rockstown Girl?
The trainer operates at a 16% strike rate at Clonmel from 19 runs.
Which runner is trying first-time headgear?
Both Rockstown Girl and Wing Back are trying first-time headgear.
What is the recent form of the selection Rockstown Girl?
Recent form figures for Rockstown Girl are 336742.
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