Fool Me Once (IRE)
Fool Me Once is a maiden who has shown placed form from 16 starts on turf, with two places. His best effort came when second of nine at Downpatrick in May 2025. He is held up in running, usually from the rear. His last run, at Ballinrobe in Jul 2026, was 11th of 16 in the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle off an official rating of 95, 14lb below his highest ever mark of 109.
- 0–16Wins / Runs
- 0%Strike rate
- 2 (12.5%)Placed
- −16.00£1 level staken=16 at SP
- 0.00Fair A/E n=16 · 0.00 incl. margin
- 109Highest OR
- 37dAvg 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.
KTB Speed and Rating
Best recent Speed 86
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 →
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 6 | 118B | 93.5 | 2 runs · 97 / 85.5 |
| Soft | 2 | 86B | 63 | 1 run · — |
| Good to Soft | 2 | 96B | 82.5 | — |
| Heavy | 2 | 73C | 42 | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 5 | 96B | 86 | 1 run · — |
| 2m5f – 3m | 4 | 118B | 100.5 | 2 runs · 97 / 85.5 |
| 1m5f – 2m | 3 | 73C | 69 | — |
Of 16 runs looked at, 4 have no figure: obstacles omitted — the race ran a shortened course (2) · did not complete (1) · not enough races on the card to set the day (under 4) (1).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 12 figures from 16 runs · as at 3 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 16 analysed runs since Jan 2025
- Held up 6 (38%) · 0 wins
- Prominent 6 (38%) · 0 wins
- Mid-division 4 (25%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Progeny in our archive have won 10.2% of 1,439 runs since Jan 2008 (157 horses).
Weakest on good to soft going: 7% from 342.
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Firm | 12 | 4 | 33.3% | +23.1 | — |
| Good | 453 | 49 | 10.8% | +0.6 | 0 from 6 |
| Good to Soft | 342 | 24 | 7% | −3.2 | 0 from 3 |
| Soft | 448 | 56 | 12.5% | +2.3 | 0 from 3 |
| Heavy | 170 | 12 | 7.1% | −3.1 | 0 from 4 |
| Standard (AW) | 14 | 2 | 14.3% | +4.1 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6f | 4 | 1 | 25% | +14.8 | — |
| 6f – 7f | 14 | 2 | 14.3% | +4.1 | — |
| 1m – 1m1f | 16 | 0 | 0% | −10.2 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 28 | 4 | 14.3% | +4.1 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 475 | 40 | 8.4% | −1.8 | 0 from 4 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 555 | 54 | 9.7% | −0.5 | 0 from 8 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 282 | 35 | 12.4% | +2.2 | 0 from 4 |
| Over 3m | 65 | 11 | 16.9% | +6.7 | — |
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
No other produce in our archive. It holds racing in Great Britain, Ireland and France from 2005, so siblings racing elsewhere won’t appear here.
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 6 | 0 | 0% | −6.00 |
| Heavy | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Soft | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Good to Soft | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downpatrick | 5 | 0 | 0% | −5.00 |
| Fairyhouse | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Ballinrobe (IRE) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Down Royal | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Limerick | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Listowel | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Wexford | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Kilbeggan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Clonmel | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Punchestown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Naas | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 8 | 0 | 0% | −8.00 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| 1m5f – 2m | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Donoghue | 6 | 0 | 0% | −6.00 |
| Eoin Staples | 4 | 0 | 0% | −4.00 |
| Kieren Buckley | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Eoghan Finegan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Tom Buckley | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Mr J R Martin | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Sean Flanagan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 13 | 0 | 0% | −13.00 |
| Cheekpieces | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | 0% | −13.00 |
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 · 3 runs | ||||||||||
| 21 Jul 26+74d | Ballinrobe (IRE) | Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle (Div II) Settled towards the back of the pack - 11th at halfway - made ground on the outside before 2 out - shaken up before the last - blundered at the last and faded fast in the run-in | 11/16 | 2¾ | 11-10 | 95 | 74B | 106A | Keith Donoghue | 12/1 |
| 08 May 26+52d | Downpatrick | Road Stud Installations Handicap Hurdle (0-100) Held up in the pack early - made no headway thereafter - well beaten at the finish | 14/15 | 1¼ | 11-4 | 97 | 97C | 89C | Eoghan Finegan | 13/2 |
| 17 Mar 26+116d | Down Royal | Bluegrass Respire Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 2) Held up towards the back - unable to improve three out - dropped away late - finished well beaten in 14th | 14/18 | 19 | 11-13 | 99 | 40C | 99C | Tom Buckley | 12/1 |
| 2025 · 13 runs | ||||||||||
| 21 Nov 25+33d | Fairyhouse | John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle Held up early - dropped away without threatening the front runners - eased and pulled up before 2 out | PU/15 | — | 11-10 | 102 | — | — | Mr J R Martin | 12/1 |
| 19 Oct 25+24d | Limerick | LubriSyn Handicap Hurdle Towards the back - 10th at halfway - moved up to 6th after 3 out - under pressure before 2 out and dropped away - blundered at the last | 5/13 | 21 | 11-12 | 104 | 86B | 99A | Keith Donoghue | 12/1 |
| 25 Sep 25+31d | Listowel | Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Sat handy in behind pace-setters - up into 4th with 3 to go and edged into second turning for home - dropped back before 2 out then eased out of contention late | 10/17 | ½ | 11-8 | 106 | 69B | 111A | Eoin Staples | 18/1 |
| 25 Aug 25+17d | Downpatrick | Randox Maiden Hurdle Sat close to the pace early - disputed second by halfway - hit the front for a spell two out - driven and back to third near the last with nothing more in the run-in | 3/6 | 17 | 10-11 | 108 | 104A | 97B | Eoin Staples | 11/4 |
| 08 Aug 25+24d | Wexford | Think Print & Design Maiden Hurdle Settled midfield early - moved into contention 4 out and up to 5th before 3 out - pressed for effort approaching the straight - couldn't close 2 out - held on for fourth at one speed to the line | 4/14 | 1½ | 10-11 | 109 | — | 109A | Eoin Staples | 9/4 |
| 15 Jul 25+67d | Downpatrick | Randox Handicap Hurdle Sat close to pace early - slipped to the back after the 5th - urged for effort but held no chance by 2 out - well held at the finish | 5/6 | ½ | 11-4 | 109 | 84A | 103B | Eoin Staples | 7/4F |
| 09 May 25+15d | Downpatrick | Randox Maiden Hurdle Sat behind the pace early - improved into 4th four out - still 4th under pressure two out - up to 3rd at the last - moved into second in the straight and stayed on but couldn't reach the winner | 2/9 | 4½ | 11-12 | 109 | 118B | 119A | Keith Donoghue | 2/1 |
| 24 Apr 25+25d | Kilbeggan | KilbegganRaces.com Handicap Hurdle Settled with the pack early - clumsy at the opening fence - up to 7th by the 5th - closed ground two out - unable to threaten the front-runner and finished 3rd - stayed on at one level to the line | 4/14 | 2¼ | 11-11 | 109 | 96B | 124A | Keith Donoghue | 13/2 |
| 30 Mar 25+31d | Downpatrick | Grant Bros Developments Handicap Hurdle Sat close to the front pack early - clipped heels 3rd - dropped to 5th at halfway - stumbled slightly 3 out - urged forward after the following fence - moved up into 2nd approaching the last - driven out but couldn't threaten the winner and finished second | 2/11 | 8½ | 11-8 | 105 | 90A | 122A | Keith Donoghue | 4/1J |
| 27 Feb 25+24d | Clonmel | Clonmel Novice Handicap Hurdle Held around midfield - urged on entering the straight without threatening leaders - kept same pace to finish well held | 8/15 | 6½ | 11-8 | 106 | — | 107A | Sean Flanagan | 50/1 |
| 03 Feb 25+18d | Punchestown | Ladbrokes 'Big Value You Can Bet On' Maiden Hurdle Sat close to pace early - up to 2nd after 4th then 3rd after four out - slipped back with error two out - lost ground approaching straight to finish 8th | 8/22 | 6 | 11-12 | — | 73C | 99C | Keith Donoghue | 66/1 |
| 16 Jan 25+11d | Fairyhouse | Fairyhouse, Racecourse Of The Year 2024 Maiden Hurdle Held up towards the back - unable to make headway from four out - stayed on steadily but well beaten in the closing stages | 8/13 | 4¾ | 11-4 | — | — | 99C | Kieren Buckley | 66/1 |
| 05 Jan 25 | Naas | I.N.H. Stallion Owners Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle Held up at back - failed to make headway - well held throughout - eventually finished 15th | 15/21 | 12 | 11-12 | — | 11C | 105C | Kieren Buckley | 150/1 |
Quick answers
- How many races has Fool Me Once won?
- Fool Me Once (IRE) has yet to win, from 16 archived starts between 2025 and 2026. Placed 2 times in total (12.5% of starts).
- Who trains Fool Me Once?
- Fool Me Once (IRE) is trained by Gavin Cromwell, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 21 July 2026.
- Who is Fool Me Once's sire?
- Fool Me Once (IRE) is by Valirann (FR) out of French Elegance (IRE), whose sire is Presenting.
- What is Fool Me Once's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 95, from the run on 21 July 2026. The highest on record is 109.
- What is Fool Me Once's sire's record?
- Valirann (FR)'s progeny in our archive have won 10.2% of 1,439 runs since Jan 2008 (157 horses), Flat and jumps together. Weakest on good to soft going: 7% from 342.