Personal Ambition (IRE)
Personal Ambition is a gelding with four wins from 16 starts on turf, including a Grade 2 success in the bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle at Kelso in Mar 2024. He has won twice over 2m1f – 2m4f and twice over 1m5f – 2m, with two wins on soft ground and two on good to soft. His last win came at Newbury in Feb 2026 in a Class 3 novices' chase. He was beaten favourite when last seen at Bangor-on-Dee in May 2026, racing off his career-high mark of 138.
- 4–16Wins / Runs
- 25%Strike rate
- 4 (25%)Placed
- +6.50£1 level staken=16 at SP
- 1.45Fair A/E n=16 · 1.27 incl. margin
- 138Highest OR
- 61dAvg 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 119
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 | 6 | 149C | 90.5 | 3 runs · 149 / 100 |
| Good to Soft | 3 | 119B | 100 | — |
| Heavy | 1 | — | — | — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 25 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m5f – 2m | 5 | 149C | 100 | 1 run · — |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 5 | 135B | 95 | 2 runs · 100 / 70 |
Of 16 runs looked at, 6 have no figure: did not complete (4) · obstacles omitted — the race ran a shortened course (2).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 10 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 11 analysed runs since Nov 2024
- Prominent 7 (64%) · 0 wins
- Led 3 (27%) · 1 win
- Held up 1 (9%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Progeny in our archive have won 11.4% of 492 runs since Jan 2008 (66 horses).
Strongest over 1m5f – 2m (all codes): 15.4% from 130.
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Firm | 5 | 0 | 0% | −11.4 | — |
| Good | 185 | 16 | 8.6% | −2.8 | 0 from 3 |
| Good to Soft | 82 | 11 | 13.4% | +2 | 2 from 5 |
| Soft | 148 | 18 | 12.2% | +0.8 | 2 from 7 |
| Heavy | 71 | 11 | 15.5% | +4.1 | 0 from 1 |
| Standard (AW) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −11.4 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1m5f – 2m | 130 | 20 | 15.4% | +4 | 2 from 7 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 170 | 17 | 10% | −1.4 | 2 from 9 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 135 | 12 | 8.9% | −2.5 | — |
| Over 3m | 57 | 7 | 12.3% | +0.9 | — |
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
4 siblings in the archive, 3 winners — best of them Roseys Hollow (IRE) (4 wins).
The wins came over 2m–2m4½f; the highest grade won is Grade 3 (Roseys Hollow (IRE)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roseys Hollow (IRE) | 19 | 4 | 2m–2m2½f | Grade 3 |
| Masons Daughter (IRE) | 11 | 4 | 2m–2m2f | — |
| Connors Cross (IRE) | 7 | 1 | 2m4½f | — |
| Who's Houdini (IRE) | 13 | 0 | — | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | 7 | 2 | 29% | +9.25 |
| Good to Soft | 5 | 2 | 40% | +1.25 |
| Good | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Heavy | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Class | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 8 | 1 | 13% | −4.00 |
| Class 2 | 3 | 0 | 0% | −3.00 |
| Class 3 | 3 | 1 | 33% | +0.25 |
| Class 4 | 2 | 2 | 100% | +13.25 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newbury | 3 | 1 | 33% | +0.25 |
| Cheltenham | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Ascot | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Bangor-on-Dee | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Carlisle | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Windsor | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Uttoxeter | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Aintree | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Kelso | 1 | 1 | 100% | +3.00 |
| Doncaster | 1 | 1 | 100% | +1.25 |
| Sandown | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Warwick | 1 | 1 | 100% | +12.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 9 | 2 | 22% | +8.00 |
| 1m5f – 2m | 7 | 2 | 29% | −1.50 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Jones | 9 | 1 | 11% | −5.75 |
| Kielan Woods | 6 | 3 | 50% | +13.25 |
| Richie McLernon | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 12 | 3 | 25% | +7.25 |
| Blinkers | 3 | 1 | 33% | +0.25 |
| Cheekpieces | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 1 | 33% | +0.25 |
| 2025 | 5 | 0 | 0% | −5.00 |
| 2024 | 6 | 2 | 33% | +0.25 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 50% | +11.00 |
| Type | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase | 9 | 1 | 11% | −5.75 |
| Hurdle | 7 | 3 | 43% | +12.25 |
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 | ||||||||||
| 16 May 26+66d | Bangor-on-Dee | Bangor-On-Dee Grand Wynnstay Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Held early spot behind the leader - dropped back a spot 3rd - began to feel pressure and asked for effort into 5th and again 4 out - fumbled badly at the 10th - soon retired from contest | PU/7 | — | 11-2 | 138 | — | — | Ben Jones | 11/4F |
| 11 Mar 26+22d | Cheltenham | Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Handy with the pace early - edged in front briefly at the 3rd - unsettled over the 6th and blundered again at the 8th to lose the advantage - sluggish over the next before fading and being pulled up | PU/20 | — | 10-11 | 138 | — | — | Kielan Woods | 20/1 |
| 17 Feb 26+60d | Newbury | OLBG 'Chasing Excellence' Novices' Chase (GBB Race) Set the pace from the off - opened a ten-length advantage by the 4th - given a nudge approaching the 6th but kept up the pace - pulled further ahead from four out and cruised home alone | 1/3 | 11-2 | 133 | 149C | 149C | Ben Jones | 9/4 | |
| 2025 · 5 runs | ||||||||||
| 19 Dec 25+20d | Ascot | Howden Noel Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Went straight to the front - overtaken 10th and slipped to third by 13th - pushed along and slid to the rear before 2 out | 5/5 | 12 | 11-4 | 136 | 40C | 116C | Richie McLernon | 16/1 |
| 29 Nov 25+27d | Newbury | 'Join Coral Bet 10 Get 50' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Up with the early pace on the wide side - came under pressure and fell away before 2 out - eventually retired from the race | PU/15 | — | 11-2 | 130 | — | — | Ben Jones | 6/1 |
| 02 Nov 25+234d | Carlisle | Stephex Trucks UK Castletown Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Sent to the front - stumbled slightly two out and pushed along - lost the advantage at the last then gave way close home | 4/11 | 3 | 11-9 | 131 | 100A | 142A | Ben Jones | 4/1 |
| 13 Mar 25+55d | Cheltenham | TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Tracked pace early - moved in front 6th - overtaken before 9th - stumbled 12th and again following fence - lost ground rapidly then eased off | PU/20 | — | 10-8 | 137 | — | — | Ben Jones | 9/1 |
| 17 Jan 25+28d | Windsor | Fitzdares Lightning Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Handy early - jumped awkwardly 4th before improving before 9th - pushed along and unable to keep tabs on pace-setters before 2 out - made no further dent through to the last | 3/4 | 19 | 11-2 | 137 | 67C | 125B | Ben Jones | 5/1 |
| 2024 · 6 runs | ||||||||||
| 20 Dec 24+21d | Ascot | Howden Noel Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Up with the early leaders - took over at the first - pressed on and drew clear approaching 2 out - blundered at the last and the advantage narrowed - caught on the run-in and held on for second | 2/4 | 2¼ | 11-4 | 131 | 48C | 140B | Ben Jones | 9/4 |
| 29 Nov 24+28d | Newbury | Coral Racing Club Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (For The Fulke Walwyn Trophy) (GBB Race) Drifted right at the first - tracked the pace throughout - blundered 9th - not always accurate and very much in contention 4 out - shifted left and checked before the last then found nil on the run-in | 4/10 | 4¾ | 11-10 | 131 | 100A | 144A | Ben Jones | 13/2 |
| 01 Nov 24+203d | Uttoxeter | Kalahari King Novices' Chase (GBB Race) Sat behind lone opponent - pushed along after second-last then kept on same gear to the line - narrowly denied in second | 2/2 | 1 | 11-3 | 131 | — | 134C | Ben Jones | 5/4 |
| 12 Apr 24+41d | Aintree | TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) | 6/6 | 26 | 11-7 | 131 | 81C | 110C | Kielan Woods | 18/1 |
| 02 Mar 24+52d | Kelso | bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) | 1/12 | 11-5 | 130 | — | 146A | Kielan Woods | 3/1 | |
| 10 Jan 24+33d | Doncaster | Download The At The Races App Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1) | 1/13 | 11-11 | — | 119B | 148A | Kielan Woods | 5/4F | |
| 2023 · 2 runs | ||||||||||
| 08 Dec 23+31d | Sandown | Betfair Beacons Winter Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) | 3/5 | 24 | 11-2 | — | 95C | 111C | Kielan Woods | 11/2 |
| 07 Nov 23 | Warwick | TrustATrader Apply Today Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1) | 1/12 | 10-13 | — | 135B | 136A | Kielan Woods | 12/1 | |
Quick answers
- How many races has Personal Ambition won?
- Personal Ambition (IRE) won 4 of 16 archived starts between 2023 and 2026, a strike rate of 25%. Placed 4 times in total (25% of starts).
- Who trains Personal Ambition?
- Personal Ambition (IRE) is trained by Ben Pauling, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 16 May 2026.
- Who is Personal Ambition's sire?
- Personal Ambition (IRE) is by Sandmason (GB) out of Saoirse's Sister (IRE), whose sire is Hubbly Bubbly.
- What going does Personal Ambition prefer?
- Personal Ambition (IRE) has the best record on good to soft going: 2 wins from 5 starts (40%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Personal Ambition's official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 138, from the run on 16 May 2026. That is also the highest on record.
- What is Personal Ambition's sire's record?
- Sandmason (GB)'s progeny in our archive have won 11.4% of 492 runs since Jan 2008 (66 horses), Flat and jumps together. Strongest over 1m5f – 2m (all codes): 15.4% from 130.
- Who are Personal Ambition's siblings?
- Out of Saoirse's Sister (IRE), Personal Ambition (IRE) has 4 other produce in our archive, 3 of them winners. Most wins: Roseys Hollow (IRE) (4). Highest grade won: Grade 3 (Roseys Hollow (IRE)). The wins came over 2m–2m4½f. As at Oct 2026.