I Started A Joke (IRE)
I Started A Joke is 2 from 10 on turf with six places. He won the Sky Bet For The Fans Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown in Jan 2026 over 1m5f – 2m on heavy ground off an official rating of 121 and the Doherty Woodshavings Flat Race at Limerick in Dec 2024 over 2m1f – 2m4f on soft ground. All wins came at Punchestown and Limerick. Aged 7 at his last run in Apr 2026 he finished third of 14 in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown off an official rating of 133 having been held up.
- 2–10Wins / Runs
- 20%Strike rate
- 6 (60%)Placed
- +0.73£1 level staken=10 at SP
- 1.18Fair A/E n=10 · 0.91 incl. margin
- 133Highest OR
- 54dAvg 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 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 →
| Going | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | 5 | 111A | 103 | 2 runs · 111 / 110.5 |
| Heavy | 3 | 132B | 103 | 3 runs · 132 / 103 |
| Good to Soft | 1 | — | — | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m5f – 2m | 6 | 132B | 103 | 3 runs · 132 / 103 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 2 | 111A | 105.5 | 1 run · — |
| 2m5f – 3m | 1 | — | — | 1 run · — |
Of 10 runs looked at, 1 has no figure: obstacles omitted — the race ran a shortened course (1).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 9 figures from 10 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 10 analysed runs since Dec 2024
- Held up 5 (50%) · 1 win
- Prominent 4 (40%) · 1 win
- Mid-division 1 (10%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Progeny in our archive have won 11.3% of 5,824 runs since Jan 2008 (679 horses).
Weakest on standard (aw) going: 6.5% from 336. Weakest over 1m – 1m1f (all codes): 3.2% from 249.
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firm | 1 | 1 | 100% | +88.7 | — |
| Good to Firm | 80 | 16 | 20% | +8.7 | — |
| Good | 1,526 | 188 | 12.3% | +1 | — |
| Good to Soft | 1,216 | 134 | 11% | −0.3 | 0 from 1 |
| Soft | 1,889 | 214 | 11.3% | 0 | 1 from 5 |
| Heavy | 776 | 86 | 11.1% | −0.2 | 1 from 4 |
| Standard (AW) | 336 | 22 | 6.5% | −4.8 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6f | 3 | 0 | 0% | −11.3 | — |
| 6f – 7f | 71 | 8 | 11.3% | 0 | — |
| 1m – 1m1f | 249 | 8 | 3.2% | −8.1 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 493 | 64 | 13% | +1.7 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 1,572 | 193 | 12.3% | +1 | 1 from 7 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 1,969 | 202 | 10.3% | −1 | 1 from 2 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 1,229 | 153 | 12.4% | +1.1 | 0 from 1 |
| Over 3m | 238 | 33 | 13.9% | +2.6 | — |
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
3 siblings in the archive, 2 winners — best of them Thickthorn Tom (IRE) (4 wins).
The wins came over 1m7½f–2m5f; the highest grade won is Class 4 (Thickthorn Tom (IRE)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thickthorn Tom (IRE) | 16 | 4 | 2m3½f–2m5f | Class 4 |
| Bents Hollow (IRE) | 6 | 1 | 1m7½f | Class 4 |
| Blumen Glory (IRE) | 14 | 0 | — | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | 5 | 1 | 20% | +4.00 |
| Heavy | 4 | 1 | 25% | −2.27 |
| Good to Soft | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Class | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punchestown | 2 | 1 | 50% | −0.27 |
| Leopardstown | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Limerick | 2 | 1 | 50% | +7.00 |
| Fairyhouse | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Navan | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Listowel | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m5f – 2m | 7 | 1 | 14% | −5.27 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 2 | 1 | 50% | +7.00 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Byrnes | 7 | 1 | 14% | −5.27 |
| Sean Bowen | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Mr Finian Maguire | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Mr R W Barron | 1 | 1 | 100% | +8.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 8 | 2 | 25% | +2.73 |
| Cheekpieces | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 1 | 25% | −2.27 |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 0% | −5.00 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 100% | +8.00 |
| Type | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurdle | 7 | 1 | 14% | −5.27 |
| NH Flat | 3 | 1 | 33% | +6.00 |
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 · 4 runs | ||||||||||
| 29 Apr 26+24d | Punchestown | Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) Held up towards the back - improved on the outside after 3 out - up into 5th 2 out - driven into 3rd turning in - unable to close before drifting right approaching the last - stayed on same gear to finish 3rd | 3/14 | 6 | 11-10 | 133 | 110B | 145A | Philip Byrnes | 11/1 |
| 05 Apr 26+63d | Fairyhouse | Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) Near back and stumbled at 1st losing a stirrup - improved into midfield by halfway then made ground early in the straight to be 3rd approaching 2 out - couldn't close further and stayed on at one speed to finish 3rd | 3/11 | 3¼ | 11-3 | 132 | 111A | 141A | Philip Byrnes | 11/1 |
| 01 Feb 26+21d | Leopardstown | Padel At Leopardstown Golf Launching Spring 2026 Handicap Hurdle (0-150) (Listed) Settled midfield early - up to 7th passing 2 out - moved into 4th on the outside turning for home - took command before the last - challenged hard at the last then overtaken inside the final furlong - stayed on to finish second | 2/19 | 1¾ | 10-4 | 126 | — | 147A | Sean Bowen | 7/4F |
| 11 Jan 26+14d | Punchestown | Sky Bet, For The Fans Maiden Hurdle Up with the front group - nudged into 3rd approaching 3 out - moved to 2nd 2 out - hit the front before the last and driven out - forged well ahead on the run-in to win readily | 1/20 | 11-12 | 121 | 97B | 147A | Philip Byrnes | 8/11F | |
| 2025 · 5 runs | ||||||||||
| 28 Dec 25+22d | Limerick | Whitebox Property Group Maiden Hurdle Sat behind front group early - up to 2nd by halfway - moved into command 2 out - asked for effort but overtaken approaching final furlong - eased back to 4th and held that spot to the line | 4/18 | ½ | 11-12 | — | 132B | 145A | Philip Byrnes | EvensF |
| 06 Dec 25+73d | Navan | Timeless Sash Windows Maiden Hurdle Tracked the front group early - improved into 6th four out - pushed into 4th after two out - third approaching the last unable to threaten the front pair and stayed on steadily to finish third | 3/26 | 11 | 11-12 | — | 103B | 131A | Philip Byrnes | 10/1 |
| 24 Sep 25+196d | Listowel | McSweeney Brothers Maiden Hurdle Held handy spot early - clipped heels 3rd - dropped to 5th by halfway - up to 4th soon after - unable to close on those in front - error two out while under pressure in 4th - stayed on same gait to finish fourth | 4/18 | 6 | 11-12 | — | 103B | 107A | Philip Byrnes | 9/1 |
| 12 Mar 25+39d | Cheltenham | Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race) Settled towards the back early - improved into contention around 4f out before losing pace 3f from home - unable to threaten the leaders thereafter and beaten well into 13th | 13/17 | ¾ | 11-7 | 120 | 122B | 134A | Philip Byrnes | 33/1 |
| 01 Feb 25+35d | Leopardstown | Paddy Power Play Card (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) Held up towards the back - urged forward heading into the straight - into 7th and asked for effort 2f out - improved to 5th but couldn't gain over 1f out and stayed on steadily to finish sixth | 6/9 | ¾ | 11-10 | — | 65A | 138A | Mr Finian Maguire | 11/4F |
| 2024 · 1 run | ||||||||||
| 28 Dec 24 | Limerick | Doherty Woodshavings Flat Race Held up towards the back - moved into 7th with 3f left - up into 4th over 2f out - pressed forward to 2nd inside the final furlong - took control 150 yards from home - battled on gamely to prevail | 1/13 | 11-9 | — | 100B | 139A | Mr R W Barron | 8/1 | |
Quick answers
- How many races has I Started A Joke won?
- I Started A Joke (IRE) won 2 of 10 archived starts between 2024 and 2026, a strike rate of 20%. Placed 6 times in total (60% of starts).
- Who trains I Started A Joke?
- I Started A Joke (IRE) is trained by C Byrnes, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 29 April 2026.
- Who is I Started A Joke's sire?
- I Started A Joke (IRE) is by Soldier of Fortune (IRE) out of Blume (IRE), whose sire is Flemensfirth.
- What going does I Started A Joke prefer?
- I Started A Joke (IRE) has the best record on heavy going: 1 win from 4 starts (25%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is I Started A Joke's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 133, from the run on 29 April 2026. That is also the highest on record.
- What is I Started A Joke's sire's record?
- Soldier of Fortune (IRE)'s progeny in our archive have won 11.3% of 5,824 runs since Jan 2008 (679 horses), Flat and jumps together. Weakest on standard (aw) going: 6.5% from 336. Weakest over 1m – 1m1f (all codes): 3.2% from 249.
- Who are I Started A Joke's siblings?
- Out of Blume (IRE), I Started A Joke (IRE) has 3 other produce in our archive, 2 of them winners. Most wins: Thickthorn Tom (IRE) (4). Highest grade won: Class 4 (Thickthorn Tom (IRE)). The wins came over 1m7½f–2m5f. As at Oct 2026.