1:45 Tramore
The 1:45 at Tramore is a 2m0f140y maiden hurdle on good ground featuring a field of ten. KTB's Fit ratings identify Louiescall as the clear top pick on 71, with a gap back to Sankofa on 55 and the rest clustered between 53 and 41. The race lacks depth and several runners arrive with limited or patchy form, while the KTB numbers underline the strength of the top selection's placed course record and consistency at the trip.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as tentative with only thin evidence of a confirmed front-runner. Speed For Fun is the one horse noted as tending to make the running or race prominently, though that assessment comes with low confidence and limited evidence. Most of the field, including the selection Louiescall, Sankofa, Bobby Kirova, Ivatt, Penzance, Grabat and Captain Hanley, are held-up types who produce their effort late. The key question is whether the race develops into a true test or whether the prominent runners can dictate matters on a track where pace can sometimes prove decisive.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Louiescall KTB Selection71/100Smart performer who has been placed on both course visits here and showed solid placed form at this trip on several occasions.
- 2Sankofa55/100Sankofa has shown very little in two starts, finishing a remote third on debut and then ninth last time.
- 3Bobby Kirova53/100Placed third on hurdling debut then ran poorly next time when stepped up in trip.
- 4Speed For Fun52/100Speed For Fun has shown ability with a second and a fall in recent starts and is placed at today's trip from his one attempt.
- 5Ivatt50/100Ivatt has some history from eight starts but remains not fully exposed after a lengthy absence.
- 6Penzance46/100Useful performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the frame on four of his last five starts.
- 7Ballybollen46/100Ballybollen showed fair form when fourth on debut over a shorter trip.
- 8Grabat44/100Grabat has shown very little in two starts so far, finishing well beaten on both occasions.
- 9Cairo King41/100Cairo King has shown little in three runs to date and returns from a long absence.
- 10Captain Hanley41/100Useful performer who has run respectably in both starts at Tramore without managing to place.
The contenders
Louiescall KTB Fit 71/100
Louiescall is a smart performer who has been placed on both course visits here and has shown solid placed form at this trip on several occasions. He has been consistent rather than progressive this year, collecting a string of minor honours but without adding to his win tally since last summer. The David Harry Kelly yard strikes at a steady 10% rate at Tramore with an A/E of 1.23 from 78 runs, while jockey Daniel King operates at 12% with an A/E of 1.1 from 60 rides. He has one win and five places from eight starts on good ground and finished second on his only previous run at the track. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he looks sure to be suited by the way this race is likely to be run.
Sankofa KTB Fit 55/100
Sankofa has shown very little in two starts, finishing a remote third on debut and then ninth last time. The yard has a solid 10% strike rate at Tramore from 78 runs with an A/E of 1.23. Dropping back in trip is an unknown and the overall sample is too small to read with any confidence. He is held up, usually producing his effort late, though that read comes with low confidence on limited evidence. The trainer and jockey combination has a 0% record from eight runs together.
Bobby Kirova KTB Fit 53/100
Bobby Kirova was placed third on his hurdling debut before running poorly next time when stepped up in trip. He drops back to an untried 2m today with first-time headgear fitted, which adds an unknown. The Michael Butler yard has an 8% strike rate at Tramore from 101 runs with an A/E of 0.71, while Paddy Cody rides at 8% with an A/E of 1.58 from 12 rides. He has been competitive without winning on good ground, placing once from three starts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will need to improve markedly on his latest effort.
Speed For Fun KTB Fit 52/100
Speed For Fun has shown ability with a second and a fall in recent starts and is placed at today's trip from his one attempt. The W P Mullins yard fires at a strong 30% strike rate here from 691 runs with an A/E of 1.01, while Brian Hayes rides at 12% with an A/E of 1.12 from 309 rides. He has been competitive on his only start on good ground. First-time headgear is now fitted on a horse with only five career runs so far. He tends to make the running or race on the pace, which could be significant given the tentative pace shape.
Ivatt KTB Fit 50/100
Ivatt has some history from eight starts but remains not fully exposed after a lengthy absence. The Gordon Elliott yard holds a 15% strike-rate at Tramore from 510 runs with an A/E of 0.82, while Danny Gilligan rides at 16% with an A/E of 1.24 from 37 rides. This represents a first run here plus a step up to an untried 2m trip on ground where he has shown little in one previous attempt. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he could improve for the fitting of no headgear or wind operation but the lack of recent match fitness is a concern.
The rest of the field
PenzanceKTB Fit 46/100
Penzance is a useful performer who has been consistent without winning lately, finishing in the frame on four of his last five starts. He has placed on good ground and at today's trip though still lacks a victory at either, while first-time headgear is now tried. The yard's modest 5% strike rate at Tramore from 333 runs with an A/E of 0.63 adds a note of caution and he is usually held up.
BallybollenKTB Fit 46/100
Ballybollen showed fair form when fourth on debut over a shorter trip. He now steps up to 2m for the first time which asks a fresh question. The Henry De Bromhead yard has a 15% strike rate from 582 runs at Tramore with an A/E of 0.77 and he tends to race prominently.
GrabatKTB Fit 44/100
Grabat has shown very little in two starts so far, finishing well beaten on both occasions. The drop back from 2m4½f to 2m asks a fresh question of a horse with only a modest profile to date. Trainer Philip Fenton has a 10% strike rate from 115 runs at Tramore with an A/E of 0.88 while jockey Niall Moore is unproven at the track and he is held up.
Cairo KingKTB Fit 41/100
Cairo King has shown little in three runs to date and returns from a long absence. He has been placed once at this trip but the small sample makes it hard to gauge his true level or what the first-time headgear might achieve. The trainer operates at a 7% strike rate at Tramore from 133 runs with an A/E of 0.67.
Captain HanleyKTB Fit 41/100
Captain Hanley is a useful performer who has run respectably in both starts at Tramore without managing to place. He has shown little on good ground in seven attempts and now steps up in trip for the first time while wearing first-time headgear. Trainer's modest 7% record here from 15 runs with an A/E of 0.69 adds to the negatives and he is usually held up.
KTB verdict
Louiescall stands out as the KTB Selection. He has been placed on both course visits, boasts solid form at this trip and has compiled a string of consistent minor honours this year. The combination of his held-up run style and the tentative pace map should play to his strengths, while the trainer and jockey both have respectable records at Tramore. His main dangers are likely to come from Speed For Fun, who brings the powerful Mullins factor and a prominent run style, and the unexposed Ivatt from the Elliott yard, though both have more to prove than the selection.
KTB Selection Louiescall
This is the narrative read of the 1:45 Tramore. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Tramore racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest placed record at Tramore?
Louiescall has been placed on both course visits here, including a second on his only run at the track.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
The pace shape is tentative with thin evidence of a front-runner. Speed For Fun is the only noted prominent runner, while the majority including Louiescall are held up, so the race may lack early speed.
Which trainer has the best strike rate at Tramore in this field?
W P Mullins has a 30% strike rate at Tramore from 691 runs.
Which runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Bobby Kirova, Speed For Fun, Penzance, Cairo King and Captain Hanley are all fitted with first-time headgear.
Has Louiescall won on good ground?
Louiescall has one win from eight starts on good ground.
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