4:10 Cork
This Irish EBF Auction Series race over six furlongs at Cork on good ground brings together a compact but open-looking field of six two-year-olds. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with Fighting Tears heading the list on the back of an encouraging debut success here, while the next three principals are separated by only three points. With no obvious front-runner in a steadily-run, tactical contest, the ability to produce a late effort from a handy position is likely to be key.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. Most of the field, including the top four in the KTB Fit order, are held-up types who produce their efforts late, though the small samples for several limit certainty. The key question is whether the race will develop enough pace for those coming from off the pace to pick up in the straight, or whether one of the more forward runners can steal a march.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Fighting Tears KTB Selection53/100
Fighting Tears made a striking impression when winning on debut over this trip on good ground at this track. That was a modest event but the manner of victory suggests there is more to come from him. The yard's 9% strike rate at Cork from 103 runs is on the modest side, yet both trainer and jockey have otherwise solid records here, with W J Lee showing a 15% strike rate from 641 rides. He has scored once from one run on good ground and, although his run-style is to be held up and produce his effort late on limited evidence, he looks the one to beat from draw 3.
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2Zoar51/100
Zoar has shown useful early ability with two placed efforts including a win over this trip on good ground. The small sample means there is still plenty to learn about him and the yard's modest 11% strike rate at Cork from 71 runs offers no strong pointer. Paddy Harnett, claiming 3lb, is operating at a low 5% strike rate from 62 rides at the track. With a held-up run-style on limited evidence and one win from two runs on good going, he remains an interesting prospect but has a bit to find with the selection.
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3Nation Blaze51/100
Nation Blaze has been well beaten on both starts so far, including when ninth of 13 over this trip on course last time. The yard and rider both operate at a modest 8% strike rate at Cork from large samples. With only two runs in the book the colt remains very much an unknown quantity. His held-up run-style on limited evidence and a single unplaced run on good ground add to the questions, though the booking of the trainer-jockey combination keeps him in the mix from draw 4.
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4The Scallionator50/100
The Scallionator is a useful performer who has already won over this trip and shown he handles the ground. Recent form has been mixed though, with a string of ordinary efforts after an early promise. Trainer Michael Mulvany has a modest 5% strike rate at Cork from 82 runs, while jockey Wesley Joyce, claiming 3lb, is on a 4% strike rate from 51 rides here. Usually held up with high-confidence run-style data, he has one win from three runs on good ground but will need to bounce back from those recent below-par displays.
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5Eyeconic49/100
Eyeconic made just one start so far and showed little at this trip. The small sample means both his ability and going preference remain unknown. Trainer J A Stack has a solid 13% strike rate at Cork from 134 runs while jockey Seamie Heffernan is operating at 9% from 676 rides here.
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6Belle Parvenue41/100
Belle Parvenue is a newcomer with no racecourse experience. The Eddie and Patrick Harty yard has a 0% strike rate from 35 runs at Cork while Chris Hayes has a modest 7% strike rate from 604 rides here. With low data confidence any assessment rests entirely on pedigree and sales background which is not supplied here.
KTB verdict
Fighting Tears stands out as the KTB Selection. He looked a ready winner on debut over this trip on good ground at this track, and the manner of that success in a modest event suggests there is more to come. Trainer and jockey both have solid records here, even if the yard's strike rate is on the modest side. The main dangers are Zoar, who has already shown useful early ability with a win over the trip on good ground, and Nation Blaze, who remains an unknown quantity despite being well beaten so far. The Scallionator cannot be entirely dismissed on his earlier promise and proven ability over the distance.
KTB Selection Fighting Tears
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:01 UTC, 9 Sep. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting Tears | 2/1 | Bet365 |
| Zoar | 2/1 | Bet365 |
| Nation Blaze | 50/1 | Bet365 |
| The Scallionator | 13/8 | Bet365 |
| Eyeconic | 22/1 | Bet Victor |
| Belle Parvenue | 33/1 | BetTom |
This is the narrative read of the 4:10 Cork. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cork racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cork results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Why does the pace shape suggest a tactical race?
The pace shape lacks a leader with medium confidence, so it is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
Which horses share the held-up run-style?
Fighting Tears, Zoar, Nation Blaze and The Scallionator are all described as usually held up and producing their effort late.
How has Fighting Tears performed on good ground at Cork?
He has one win from one run on good ground at this track.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Cork for the yard of the selection?
A Oliver has a 9% strike rate at Cork with an A/E of 0.8 from 103 runs.
Which principal has the highest confidence in its run-style description?
The Scallionator has high confidence in its held-up run-style.
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