Strong Contender (IRE)
Typically ridden with patience — held up in 8 of 9 analysed runs — Strong Contender (IRE) is 2 from 10. Both wins came on good or faster ground (0 from 7 on softer). Each win came on a first visit to the course. Last raced off a career-high mark of 94.
- 2–10Wins / Runs
- 20%Strike rate
- 3 (30%)Placed
- +7.00£1 level staken=10 at SP
- 3.31Fair A/E n=10 · 2.61 incl. margin
- 94Highest 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 107
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 18 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Soft | 4 | 111C | 78.5 | 4 · 111 / 78.5 |
| Good | 3 | 107A | 87 | 3 · 107 / 87 |
| Soft | 1 | — | — | 1 · — |
| Distance | Runs | Best | Median | Since 18 Oct 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m5f – 3m | 4 | 89B | 86.5 | 4 · 89 / 86.5 |
| Over 3m | 2 | 107A | 87.5 | 2 · 107 / 87.5 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 1 | — | — | 1 · — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 1 | — | — | 1 · — |
Of 10 runs looked at, 2 have no figure: obstacles omitted — the race ran a shortened course (2).
KTB Speed v1 · batch 15 Sep 2026 · GB & Irish racing only · 8 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 9 analysed runs
- Held up 8 (89%) · 1 win
- Midfield 1 (11%) · 0 wins
Pedigree intelligence
Progeny in our archive have won 13.5% of 2,215 runs since Jan 2008 (251 horses).
Weakest on standard (aw) going: 10.3% from 155.
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Firm | 60 | 10 | 16.7% | +3.2 | — |
| Good | 624 | 80 | 12.8% | −0.7 | 2 from 3 |
| Good to Soft | 462 | 50 | 10.8% | −2.7 | 0 from 5 |
| Soft | 653 | 102 | 15.6% | +2.1 | 0 from 2 |
| Heavy | 261 | 41 | 15.7% | +2.2 | — |
| Standard (AW) | 155 | 16 | 10.3% | −3.2 | — |
| Distance (all codes) | Runs | Wins | SR | vs sire | This horse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6f | 2 | 0 | 0% | −13.5 | — |
| 6f – 7f | 63 | 4 | 6.3% | −7.2 | — |
| 1m – 1m1f | 96 | 10 | 10.4% | −3.1 | — |
| 1m2f – 1m4f | 146 | 18 | 12.3% | −1.2 | — |
| 1m5f – 2m | 663 | 92 | 13.9% | +0.4 | 0 from 2 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 739 | 105 | 14.2% | +0.7 | 0 from 1 |
| 2m5f – 3m | 426 | 57 | 13.4% | −0.1 | 1 from 5 |
| Over 3m | 80 | 13 | 16.3% | +2.8 | 1 from 2 |
Flat and jumps together (all codes) · since Jan 2008 · as at 18 Oct 2026 · rows under 30 runs muted · win % is the measure, a record not a forecast
5 siblings in the archive, 1 winner — best of them Minella Rescue (IRE) (4 wins).
The wins came over 2m–2m7½f; the highest grade won is Class 2 (Minella Rescue (IRE)).
| Produce | Runs | Wins | Win trips | Best grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minella Rescue (IRE) | 21 | 4 | 2m–2m7½f | Class 2 |
| Florrie Webb (IRE) | 6 | 0 | — | — |
| Reverse Sweep (IRE) | 3 | 0 | — | — |
| Annahalla Rebel (IRE) | 2 | 0 | — | — |
| Minella Staycation (IRE) | 1 | 0 | — | — |
Record by conditions
| Going | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good to Soft | 5 | 0 | 0% | −5.00 |
| Good | 3 | 2 | 67% | +14.00 |
| Soft | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Course | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilbeggan | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Listowel (IRE) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Galway (IRE) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Sligo (IRE) | 1 | 1 | 100% | +4.00 |
| Wexford (IRE) | 1 | 1 | 100% | +11.00 |
| Ballinrobe (IRE) | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Killarney | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Fairyhouse | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Sligo | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Distance | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2m5f – 3m | 5 | 1 | 20% | +7.00 |
| Over 3m | 2 | 1 | 50% | +3.00 |
| 1m5f – 2m | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| 2m1f – 2m4f | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conor Smithers | 5 | 2 | 40% | +12.00 |
| J J Slevin | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Phillip Enright | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Sam Ewing | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
| Headgear | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | 8 | 2 | 25% | +9.00 |
| Tongue tie | 2 | 0 | 0% | −2.00 |
| Season | Runs | Wins | SR | £1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 2 | 22% | +8.00 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0% | −1.00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 26+18d | Listowel (IRE) | Guinness Listowel Mares Handicap Hurdle Held up towards back of the pack - urged forward after 3 out - pressed into action nearing 2 out - stayed on from the last to take 5th | 5/14 | shd | 11-1 | 94 | 89B | 99A | Conor Smithers | 9/1 |
| 07 Sep 26+19d | Galway (IRE) | WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle (Div II) Held up at the back early - moved into contention after the 7th - up to 6th before 2 out - up into 3rd approaching the last - briefly 2nd on the run-in but found little more - eased back to 3rd at the line | 3/19 | 8 | 11-1 | 94 | 86B | 110A | Conor Smithers | 11/2 |
| 19 Aug 26+12d | Sligo (IRE) | Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Settled towards the back of the pack early - made progress to 4th 3 out and up into 3rd soon after - into 2nd approaching the last under pressure - finished strongly to get up in the final strides | 1/11 | 10-1 | 88 | 107A | 102A | Conor Smithers | 4/1F | |
| 07 Aug 26+17d | Wexford (IRE) | SIS Handicap Hurdle Held up early towards the back - improved into second before three out then hit the front after the following fence - driven out to easily assert on the run to the line | 1/13 | 10-0 | 79 | 87B | 109A | Conor Smithers | 11/1 | |
| 21 Jul 26+36d | Ballinrobe (IRE) | Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle (Div II) Travelled midfield on the inside - made ground to share the front at the 2nd - slipped back to midfield before the 5th - 4th at halfway - gave up that spot before 3 out - faded and slipped towards the back after 2 out | 8/16 | ½ | 10-10 | 81 | 76B | 96A | J J Slevin | 14/1 |
| 15 Jun 26+37d | Kilbeggan | Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 1) Held up in the back group - niggled at approaching 2 out - stayed 7th skipping the final fence and never threatened | 7/15 | 1 | 10-6 | 82 | — | 91A | Conor Smithers | 40/1 |
| 09 May 26+15d | Killarney | Mongey Communications Maiden Hurdle Held up towards the back - lost touch after 4 out - well beaten in the closing stages | 13/15 | 20 | 10-11 | — | 31C | 90C | J J Slevin | 250/1 |
| 24 Apr 26+20d | Kilbeggan | Aguiar Racing Maiden Hurdle Held up at the back - lost touch with the field - no impression made - well beaten in 13th | 13/14 | 5 | 11-5 | — | 111C | 85C | Phillip Enright | 150/1 |
| 04 Apr 26+162d | Fairyhouse | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle Held up towards the back - jumped awkwardly at the opening fence - struggling to make ground - came down 3 out | PU/16 | — | 11-7 | — | — | — | Phillip Enright | 100/1 |
| 24 Oct 25 | Sligo | Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle Held up in rear early - given a squeeze in ninth spot - moved into third before 4 out - driven approaching 2 out but unable to threaten the front pair | 3/4 | 12 | 10-7 | — | 68C | 88C | Sam Ewing | 15/2 |
Quick answers
- How many races has Strong Contender (IRE) won?
- Strong Contender (IRE) won 2 of 10 archived starts between 2025 and 2026, a strike rate of 20%. Placed 3 times in total (30% of starts).
- Who trains Strong Contender (IRE)?
- Strong Contender (IRE) is trained by Norman Lee, who saddled the horse on its most recent run on 25 September 2026.
- Who is Strong Contender (IRE)'s sire?
- Strong Contender (IRE) is by Jukebox Jury (IRE) out of Some Catch (IRE), whose sire is Shantou.
- What going does Strong Contender (IRE) prefer?
- Strong Contender (IRE) has the best record on good going: 2 wins from 3 starts (66.7%). Only going bands with at least three archived starts are read, so this is a direction rather than a settled preference.
- What is Strong Contender (IRE)'s official rating?
- The most recent official rating on record is 94, from the run on 25 September 2026. That is also the highest on record.
- What is Strong Contender (IRE)'s sire's record?
- Jukebox Jury (IRE)'s progeny in our archive have won 13.5% of 2,215 runs since Jan 2008 (251 horses), Flat and jumps together. Weakest on standard (aw) going: 10.3% from 155.
- Who are Strong Contender (IRE)'s siblings?
- Out of Some Catch (IRE), Strong Contender (IRE) has 5 other produce in our archive, 1 of them a winner. Most wins: Minella Rescue (IRE) (4). Highest grade won: Class 2 (Minella Rescue (IRE)). The wins came over 2m–2m7½f. As at Oct 2026.