3:21 Clonmel
The 3:21 at Clonmel is a 13-runner Mahon Falls Novice Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f51y on good ground. It brings together a mix of lightly-raced types and more experienced performers, several with course form and recent wins to their name. The KTB Fit Scores highlight a compact top end, headed by Private Policy on 66, with four others clustered between 61 and 56, suggesting a competitive renewal where course aptitude and trip suitability will be key.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, driven by multiple habitual front-runners including Ripsnorter, Nirisque and Chemdawg, along with several prominent racers such as Private Policy, Silly Mongoose, Market Ready and Bobby Kirova. This early speed could cause the race to collapse late on, placing a premium on horses that can be produced with a well-timed run from off the pace. The key question is whether the prominent group can sustain their effort or if the hold-up performers will be the ones to profit from the anticipated late fade.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Private Policy KTB Selection66/100
Private Policy is a useful performer who has already won over this track and on this ground. He arrives in decent form after a recent win but drops back in trip from 2m7f having failed to trouble the judge in his only previous try at this distance. The trainer's 8% strike rate at Clonmel comes from 1 win in 13 runs. He will race prominently, usually on or close to the lead, and holds a 1 from 2 course record along with 1 win from 2 starts on good ground. The 7 lb claimer Paddy Cleary takes the ride and boasts a 25% strike rate at Clonmel from just 8 rides. Overall this looks a suitable opportunity for a horse with proven course and ground effectiveness.
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2Silly Mongoose61/100
Silly Mongoose is a useful sort who has shown consistent placed form on this track and on good ground. He steps up in trip today having been out of the frame in his only previous attempt at this distance and his recent efforts have been mixed. The trainer has a 15% strike rate at Clonmel from 55 runs in line with his record elsewhere. He will race prominently with high confidence, usually handily on or close to the lead, and has a placed record here from two starts without a win. On good ground he is 0-5 but competitive with two placings. Alan O'Sullivan takes the mount but is yet to score at the track from 32 rides.
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3Market Ready60/100
Market Ready is a smart performer who has shown consistent placed form at this track, finishing second and twice fourth from three runs. He drops back in trip today having been placed over slightly further last time, though he is 0-2 on good ground. The trainer records an 11% strike rate at Clonmel from 95 runs, above their 5% elsewhere. He will race prominently with high confidence, usually handily on or close to the lead. Sean O'Keeffe is in the saddle with a 6% strike rate at the venue from 173 rides. His placed efforts at Clonmel without a win mark him down as a consistent but not yet fully proven performer on this surface.
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4Bobby Kirova57/100
Bobby Kirova is a useful performer who won both starts here over this trip on good ground. Recent form has been mixed but the 1 from 1 course record and 1 from 1 at the distance are firm positives. The trainer records a 5% strike rate at Clonmel from 85 runs, in line with his overall figure. He will race prominently, usually handily on or close to the lead, and boasts 1 win from 4 starts on good ground with two placings. At four years of age he brings the benefit of youth to the race and his Clonmel success suggests he could be well suited by returning to this venue.
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5Ripsnorter56/100
Ripsnorter is a smart performer who showed his best when winning at Listowel in September. He has failed to build on that in two starts since and was well held when last seen. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Clonmel is in line with his record elsewhere while this is the horse's first run here. He tends to make the running or race on the pace and will be one of those setting the strong early tempo. On good ground he is 1 from 5 with one placing. Danny Mullins rides with a 10% strike rate at Clonmel from 302 rides, offering useful assistance in what could be a testing pace scenario.
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6Nirisque56/100
Nirisque is a useful sort who has shown steady improvement in his short career and arrives here off an official rating of 102. He has already run once at Clonmel, finishing sixth, while the yard holds an 18% strike rate here from 423 runs which is above their 13% at other tracks. Stepping up in trip for the first time today poses a fresh question and he tries headgear for the first time. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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7Blue Johnl53/100
Blue Johnl is a useful performer who has shown steady improvement in recent starts and arrives here off the back of a solid third last time. He steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question while the lightly-raced profile means the going remains an unknown. He typically settles in midfield. The half-brother to Celestial Park comes from a dam that has had five other runners, one of them a winner.
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8Lauro's Legend53/100
Lauro's Legend is a useful performer on his best days but has been pulled up in both starts this season and showed little spark when last seen. He has already tried this trip three times without success and steps up in distance again today from a modest recent effort over a mile and six. At Clonmel he was pulled up on his only visit and the trainer's 8% strike rate here is in line with his record elsewhere. He typically settles in midfield.
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9Chemdawg52/100
Chemdawg is a useful performer on his day with a solid recent record that includes two wins this season. He has been placed here without winning in four runs at Clonmel and holds an 11% strike rate for the trainer at the track which sits in line with the yard's record elsewhere. The step up in trip today asks a fresh question while his placed efforts on good ground show he handles the conditions. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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10Mahler's Best50/100
Mahler's Best is a useful performer on his official rating of 94 but has shown little in four runs to date. He finished a modest fourth of eight at this track on his latest start and was well held over this trip that one time. The yard's 15 percent strike rate at Clonmel is in line with their record elsewhere. He is usually held up and produces its effort late.
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11Beyond Forgiveness44/100
Beyond Forgiveness is a useful performer who showed fair form when sixth of 14 in a handicap hurdle at Cork last time. He steps up in trip today having been campaigned over shorter, which asks a fresh question, while first-time headgear is also tried. The half-brother to Full Confession comes from a dam that has had seven other runners, one of them a winner. He usually races handily, on or close to the lead.
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12Mother Ship43/100
Mother Ship is a fair performer who arrives in solid form having won two of his last four starts. He has placed twice at today's trip without winning and holds an official rating of 89. The trainer's 5% strike rate at Clonmel from 244 runs is in line with his record elsewhere while the 7 lb claimer is making his first ride at the track. He typically settles in midfield.
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13Soldier Saint40/100
Soldier Saint is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning, finishing no worse than sixth in four of his last five starts. He has shown some competitiveness on good ground with two placed efforts from seven starts but remains winless at this trip from two attempts and was only fifth on his sole visit to Clonmel. First-time headgear is now applied while the trainer has a 3% strike rate at Clonmel from 62 runs in line with his record elsewhere. He is usually held up and produces its effort late.
KTB verdict
Private Policy stands out as the KTB Selection. He possesses proven course and ground effectiveness, having already won here over this trip on good ground, and arrives in decent nick following a recent success. His prominent run-style should see him well placed in a race where the strong pace could cause problems for those up front late on. The main dangers are headed by Silly Mongoose and Market Ready, both with solid placed form at the track, while Bobby Kirova's 1 from 1 course record and Ripsnorter's recent Listowel success cannot be dismissed in what looks a tight contest.
KTB Selection Private Policy
This is the narrative read of the 3:21 Clonmel. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Clonmel racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Clonmel results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Clonmel racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has already won over the course and distance on good ground?
Private Policy and Bobby Kirova have both won here over this trip on good ground, with Private Policy holding a 1 from 2 course record and Bobby Kirova 1 from 1.
How many front-runners or prominent racers are likely to ensure a strong pace?
At least five horses are set to race up with the pace: Ripsnorter as a front-runner, Nirisque and Chemdawg also front-runners, plus prominent runners Private Policy, Silly Mongoose, Market Ready, Bobby Kirova and Beyond Forgiveness.
Which runners are making their first attempt at this distance?
Silly Mongoose, Market Ready, Blue Johnl, Chemdawg, Beyond Forgiveness and Nirisque are all stepping up in trip for the first time today.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Clonmel in this field?
Henry de Bromhead has an 18% strike rate at Clonmel from 423 runs, the highest in the field.
Which horses are wearing headgear for the first time?
Nirisque, Beyond Forgiveness and Soldier Saint are all trying headgear for the first time.
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