2:00 Clonmel
The Clonmel Oil Service Station Handicap Hurdle at 3m on good ground brings together a compact but competitive field of seven. Official ratings cluster tightly between 107 and 120, with four principals holding Fit Scores in the mid-to-high 50s and all rated smart performers by KTB. The KTB numbers highlight Hopeful Hero as the clear top pick on the back of his course win and consistent good-ground form, though the step up to this trip and the muddling pace shape add layers of uncertainty across the card.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner the pace is expected to be muddling and tactical, favouring those able to race close to the pace or in midfield. Prominent runners such as J'Arrive de L'Est, Nelson Muntz and Boo Radley should therefore be comfortably placed early, while held-up types like Zoffman and Ceanndana will look to produce their efforts late. The key question is whether the leaders can inject enough tempo to prevent the race from becoming a sprint for the line or whether the closers will find the muddling fractions play into their hands.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Hopeful Hero KTB Selection64/100
Hopeful Hero is the KTB Selection. A smart performer, he won on his only previous visit to Clonmel and has shown consistent form this season with two wins and several placed efforts on good ground. He settles typically in midfield. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at the track from 150 runs is in line with his record elsewhere. Mark Walsh takes the ride with an 11% strike rate at Clonmel from 303 rides. The step up to 3m today asks a fresh question of this five-year-old who holds an official rating of 118.
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2J'Arrive de L'Est58/100
J'Arrive de L'Est is a high-class performer who has shown strong placed form on his last two completed starts and arrives with an official rating of 120. He races prominently, usually on or close to the lead, which should suit the muddling pace. The yard operates at a 13% strike rate at Clonmel from 31 runs, in line with its record elsewhere, though Alan O'Sullivan is yet to record a winner from 35 rides at the track. He drops back from 3m7½f to an untried 3m while making his first appearance at Clonmel. He has been competitive on good ground without winning.
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3Zoffman57/100
Zoffman is a smart performer who ran well when second at Down Royal last time and has placed form over this trip. He is usually held up and produces his effort late, a run-style that could be effective in a tactical affair. The trainer's 14% strike rate at Clonmel from 350 runs is in line with his overall figure, though Conor Stone-Walsh has yet to score from 28 rides here. He has a bit to find on his sole course run at Clonmel where he finished fourth. His record on good ground is only modest without a win from 19 starts, though he has placed six times.
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4Nelson Muntz57/100
Nelson Muntz is a smart performer who has shown his best form over shorter trips and arrives in decent heart after a recent win. He races prominently, usually handily on or close to the lead. He has placed on both starts at Clonmel without winning. The trainer operates at a 4% strike rate here from 116 runs, in line with his overall record, while Phillip Enright has a 9% strike rate at the track from 555 rides. The step up to an untested 3m poses a fresh question. He holds a solid record on good ground with one win and three places from seven starts.
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5Smallcraftwarning56/100
Smallcraftwarning is a smart performer who has won at this track from just two runs and brings solid recent form including two wins and a second in his last four completed starts. He steps up in trip today having already won twice at this distance from eight attempts. The trainer records a 9% strike rate at Clonmel from 274 runs which sits in line with his overall figure.
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6Ceanndana51/100
Ceanndana is a smart performer who has been consistent at this level without winning lately. He drops back from 3m1f to a trip where he is 0-4 but has placed twice, and he acts on good ground with three wins from 14 starts. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Clonmel from 55 runs is in line with his overall record.
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7Boo Radley46/100
Boo Radley is a smart performer who brings strong recent form and a solid official rating of 107. Half-brother to Grade 2 winner Feet Of A Dancer, the dam has had four other runners of which three were winners. The yard posts a 27% strike rate at Clonmel from 808 runs which sits above their 21% at other tracks. He steps up to an untried 3m trip today and has yet to show form on good ground from three starts.
KTB verdict
Hopeful Hero stands out as the KTB Selection. His course win on his only previous visit, consistent good-ground form this season and proven ability to settle in midfield all point to him handling the muddling pace effectively. The step up to 3m is the main unknown, yet his overall profile gives him the strongest claims. J'Arrive de L'Est and Nelson Muntz, both prominent runners with solid recent efforts, look the chief dangers if the race develops tactically in their favour, while Zoffman could close late if the fractions are slow enough.
KTB Selection Hopeful Hero
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:04am, 5 Nov. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Hopeful Hero | 7/2 | BetTom, 12:04am |
| J'Arrive de L'Est | 9/1 | Bet365, 12:04am |
| Zoffman | 3/1 | Bet365, 12:04am |
| Nelson Muntz | 7/2 | BetTom, 12:04am |
| Smallcraftwarning | 6/1 | Bet Victor, 12:04am |
| Ceanndana | 13/2 | Bet365, 12:04am |
| Boo Radley | 9/1 | Bet Victor, 12:04am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:00 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 won at Clonmel before?
Hopeful Hero won on his only previous visit to Clonmel and Smallcraftwarning has also won here from two runs.
Who has the strongest trainer record at Clonmel in this race?
W. P. Mullins has a 27% strike rate at Clonmel from 808 runs, the highest in the field.
Which runners are stepping up to 3m for the first time?
Hopeful Hero, J'Arrive de L'Est, Nelson Muntz and Boo Radley are all untested at 3m.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
The muddling and tactical pace with no obvious front-runner should suit those ridden close to the pace.
Which horse has the best recent win on good ground?
Nelson Muntz arrives in decent heart after a recent win and holds a solid record on good ground with one win from seven starts.
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