Horse profile
Better Times (IRE)
by Hillstar (GB) out of New Vega (FR) (Blushing Flame)
13 runs · 11 courses · from May 2025
As at 25 Oct 2026 · KTB archive: GB, Ireland & France · 2005–present, updated daily
Won at Downpatrick
Last run 3 Oct 2026 · 9th of 11
Last raced off OR 108
KTB Profile
Better Times (IRE) is 1 from 13.
Based on 13 archived runs · run-style from 13 commented runs since May 2025 · updated 25 Oct 2026
- 1–13Wins / Runs
- 7.7%Strike rate
- 1 (7.7%)Placed
- −1.00£1 level staken=13 at SP
- 1.10Fair A/E n=13 · 0.87 incl. margin
- 111Highest OR
- 43dAvg between runs
A/E compares actual wins with what starting prices implied. "Fair" strips the bookmaker margin from the expectation, so favourites and longshots are judged on the same footing — figures near 1.00 mean the market priced this horse about right.
Official rating108↓ 3lb off peak
108
105–111
KTB Speed and Rating
KTB Speed
Best recent Speed 111
How fast the horse ran, as points against the day-corrected standard time for its course and distance: 100 is the median GB Class 4 handicap winner on that code; one point is 0.1% of the standard time. A, B or C is how much the day's card could tell us, not how good the run was. What this means →
Jumps
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Soft | 4 | 167B | 84 | 3 runs · 94 / 74 |
| Soft | 4 | 90B | 88 | 4 runs · 90 / 88 |
| Good | 3 | 111A | 95 | 2 runs · 111 / 100 |
| Heavy | 1 | — | — | 1 run · — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 7 | 167B | 88 | 5 runs · 89 / 78 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 5 | 111A | 90 | 5 runs · 111 / 90 |
Of 13 runs looked at, 1 has no figure: did not complete (1).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 12 figures from 13 runs · as at 11 Oct 2026 · a record, not a forecast
Both figures are KTB's own, computed from the archive; no vendor rating enters either. Every run's figure is on its form line below with its grade. Grades measure how much the archive could see, never the merit of the run.
Run style from 13 analysed runs since May 2025
- Held up 7 (54%) · 1 win
- Mid-division 4 (31%) · 0 wins
- Led 1 (8%) · 0 wins
- Prominent 1 (8%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Sire
Progeny in our archive have won 7.4% of 741 runs since Jan 2008 (88 horses).
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Firm | 6 | 1 | 16.7% | +9.3 | — |
| Good | 299 | 26 | 8.7% | +1.3 | 0 from 3 |
| Good to Soft | 150 | 9 | 6% | −1.4 | 0 from 4 |
| Soft | 193 | 14 | 7.3% | −0.1 | 1 from 5 |
| Heavy | 87 | 5 | 5.7% | −1.7 | 0 from 1 |
| Standard (AW) | 6 | 0 | 0% | −7.4 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6f | 1 | 0 | 0% | −7.4 | — |
| 6f – 7f | 4 | 0 | 0% | −7.4 | — |
| 1m – 1m1f | 6 | 0 | 0% | −7.4 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 5 | 0 | 0% | −7.4 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 255 | 19 | 7.5% | +0.1 | — |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 266 | 21 | 7.9% | +0.5 | 0 from 8 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 182 | 13 | 7.1% | −0.3 | 1 from 5 |
| Over 3m | 22 | 2 | 9.1% | +1.7 | — |
Flat and jumps together (all codes) · since Jan 2008 · as at 25 Oct 2026 · rows under 30 runs muted · win % is the measure, a record not a forecast
Dam
New Vega (FR) (Blushing Flame)
3 siblings in the archive, 1 winner — best of them State The Obvious (IRE) (2 wins).
The wins came over 2m4f–3m; the highest grade won is Class 4 (State The Obvious (IRE)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State The Obvious (IRE) | 14 | 2 | 2m4f–3m | Class 4 |
| Viva Jez Vegas (IRE) | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| Knightphase (IRE) | 5 | 0 | — | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | 5 | 1 | 20% | +7.00 |
| Good to Soft | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Good | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Heavy | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downpatrick | 2 | 1 | 50% | +10.00 |
| Thurles | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Gowran Park (IRE) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Ballinrobe (IRE) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Tramore | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Kilbeggan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Punchestown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Clonmel | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Leopardstown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Fairyhouse | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Tipperary | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 8 | 0 | 0% | −8.00 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 5 | 1 | 20% | +7.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Kenneally | 5 | 1 | 20% | +7.00 |
| Ricky Doyle | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Conor Smithers | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Mr J W Hendrick | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Danny Mullins | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Mr M N Sharpe | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Mr P W Mullins | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 10 | 1 | 10% | +2.00 |
| Hood | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Cheekpieces | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 1 | 10% | +2.00 |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Type | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurdle | 9 | 1 | 11% | +3.00 |
| Chase | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| NH Flat | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
Splits include every sample, however small — muted rows are under 3 runs. A one-from-one record is a fact, not a trend: read the Runs column before the strike rate.
Form
| Date | Course | Race | Pos | Btn | Wgt | OR | Spd | KTB | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · 10 runs | ||||||||||
| 03 Oct 26+22d | Gowran Park (IRE) | Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle raced in the pack - improved to hold second 3 out then soon outpaced and tired quickly - finished 9th and well beaten | 9/11 | 10 | 9-13 | 108 | 94C | 88C | Conor Smithers | 9/1 |
| 11 Sep 26+104d | Ballinrobe (IRE) | Michael Cawe Suspended Ceilings Handicap Hurdle Settled around midfield early - up to 7th four out then 6th three out - dropped away after two out - unable to threaten late finishing eighth | 8/14 | nse | 11-1 | 109 | 74B | 112A | Ricky Doyle | 25/1 |
| 30 May 26+15d | Tramore | Racing TV Handicap Chase Held up towards the back - still 8th at halfway and clipped another runner 5 out - unable to find more from 2 out home | 7/11 | 1 | 11-5 | 110 | 111A | 106A | Mr J W Hendrick | 10/1 |
| 15 May 26+16d | Kilbeggan | Cooke's Bar And Restaurant Caragh Beginners Chase Held up early - jumped awkwardly at the 2nd - improved into 7th with 3 to go - moved through late to 4th before the 2nd last and driven - unable to threaten those in front | 4/14 | 5½ | 11-7 | — | 89B | 108A | Michael Kenneally | 10/1 |
| 29 Apr 26+15d | Punchestown | Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle Held up towards back of field - jumped awkwardly three out - unseated rider soon after | UR/24 | — | 11-1 | 111 | — | — | Michael Kenneally | 16/1 |
| 14 Apr 26+16d | Clonmel | Killusty Handicap Hurdle Held up at the back - improved into contention before the 7th and running 10th after the 8th - moved through the field turning into the straight - into second 2 out and kept going - slipped back to third approaching the last - held no more late on to finish 4th | 4/15 | 3¾ | 11-5 | 111 | 90B | 119A | Michael Kenneally | 8/1 |
| 29 Mar 26+27d | Downpatrick | Kevin Ross Bloodstock 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle Settled towards the back early - moved into contention 4 out - up into second before the final fence - hit the front approaching the last two - driven out after jumping the last to assert late | 1/10 | 11-2 | 105 | 88B | 119B | Michael Kenneally | 11/1 | |
| 02 Mar 26+25d | Leopardstown | Trackman Range At Leopardstown Golf Centre Novice Handicap Hurdle Settled among the pack early - held fourth into fifth - dropped back after four out - unable to challenge and faded before the last - held on with nothing more to give at the finish | 7/18 | 1¾ | 11-3 | 105 | 78B | 111A | Michael Kenneally | 8/1 |
| 05 Feb 26+35d | Thurles | www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle Settled in the pack - 6th with three to jump - driven but made no headway - moved up to 5th at the last and stayed on steadily | 5/14 | 4¼ | 11-4 | — | 58B | 105A | Ricky Doyle | 28/1 |
| 01 Jan 26+35d | Fairyhouse | Easter Festival Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now Maiden Hurdle Held up towards the back - driven into contention after 3 out - stayed on steadily to finish 5th | 5/18 | 2½ | 11-12 | — | 88B | 108A | Ricky Doyle | 50/1 |
| 2025 · 3 runs | ||||||||||
| 27 Nov 25+188d | Thurles | Book Your Christmas Party Here On December 20th Maiden Hurdle Shared the lead early - settled just behind the front group pulling hard - up in 4th at halfway - hit a small error 5 out and got no response when pressed - dropped away to finish well beaten in 15th | 15/16 | 41 | 11-12 | — | 40C | 107C | Danny Mullins | 28/1 |
| 23 May 25+15d | Downpatrick | Caherty Stables Racing Syndicate Point-To-Point Flat Race Held up at back - still 7th at halfway - urged forward with 3f left - unable to close in 5th over 2f out - moved into 4th entering straight and stayed on steadily to finish 4th | 4/8 | 2 | 11-7 | — | 95C | 94C | Mr M N Sharpe | 16/5 |
| 08 May 25 | Tipperary | Millennium Surveys Ltd (C & G) Point-To-Point Flat Race Tracked the front-runner - up with the principals at halfway - off the bridle wide entering the straight and pressed for a spot over 1f out - no more to give and plugged on one-paced inside the final furlong | 4/12 | 4¼ | 12-0 | — | 167B | 118A | Mr P W Mullins | 13/2 |
Quick answers
- How many races has Better Times won?
- Better Times (IRE) won 1 of 13 archived starts between 2025 and 2026, a strike rate of 7.7%. Placed 1 time in total (7.7% of starts).
- Who trains Better Times?
- Better Times (IRE) is trained by S G Carey, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 3 October 2026.
- Who is Better Times's sire?
- Better Times (IRE) is by Hillstar (GB) out of New Vega (FR), whose sire is Blushing Flame.
- What going does Better Times prefer?
- Better Times (IRE) has the best record on soft going: 1 win from 5 starts (20%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Better Times's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 108, from the run on 3 October 2026. The highest on record is 111.
- What is Better Times's sire's record?
- Hillstar (GB)'s progeny in our archive have won 7.4% of 741 runs since Jan 2008 (88 horses), Flat and jumps together.
- Who are Better Times's siblings?
- Out of New Vega (FR), Better Times (IRE) has 3 other produce in our archive, 1 of them a winner. Most wins: State The Obvious (IRE) (2). Highest grade won: Class 4 (State The Obvious (IRE)). The wins came over 2m4f–3m. As at Oct 2026.