4:30 Clonmel
This 12-runner William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Steeplechase at Clonmel over 2m4f219y on good ground brings together a competitive field of smart performers, several of whom are stepping up or down in trip while making their first competitive visit to the venue. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Banjaxed heading the numbers on 62, followed by Charlie Luciano on 58 and Kings Jet on 56, underlining a race where recent form, trainer trends and trip suitability will be decisive. Official ratings range from 100 to 117, and with no course form for the majority of the field the race poses several unknowns.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with at least two habitual front-runners present and multiple horses that race prominently or on the lead. The early gallop is likely to be unrelenting, raising the strong possibility of the race collapsing in the latter stages. That scenario would play into the hands of hold-up horses, while those racing prominently could pay a stiff price for their early exertions. The key question is which of the pace-setters can maintain their effort longest or whether the race will fall into the lap of a patient rider.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Banjaxed KTB Selection62/100
Banjaxed is the KTB Selection and rates a smart performer on his official mark of 112 and race history. He arrives with a patchy recent record of 4486-4 yet steps up in trip today having won once from three starts at this distance. The yard has a 0% strike rate at Clonmel from five runs and the horse himself has never run here in 21 starts while showing no win or place from his one run on good ground. Trainer and jockey combine with an 11% record from 27 runners. His prominent run-style, racing handily on or close to the lead, could leave him vulnerable if the strong pace materialises as expected.
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2Charlie Luciano58/100
Charlie Luciano is a smart performer who arrives in reasonable form having won twice this year and finished a solid third at Listowel last time. He drops back from three miles to a trip he has tried without success and makes his first start at Clonmel. Noel Meade has a 14% strike rate here from 349 runs while Jack Kennedy, who teams up at an 11% rate from 18 runners, takes the ride. The horse has three wins from 16 starts on good ground with a further nine placed efforts. His prominent style means he will be towards the front in a race where the pace is expected to be strong.
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3Kings Jet56/100
Kings Jet is a smart performer who has shown consistent placed form when completing lately. He steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning, while the yard's 7% strike rate at Clonmel comes from one win in 14 runs. The six-year-old goes well on good ground with a win and two places from six starts. Ricky Doyle rides for the combination that has an 9% record from 11 runners. Usually prominent and racing handily on or close to the lead with high confidence, he will be in the thick of the early action in what is set to be a strongly-run contest.
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4Duty Bound54/100
Duty Bound is a smart performer on his day with a solid official rating of 105 and a career that includes two wins from three starts at today's trip. He drops back from 3m1f having shown placed form on good ground from seven attempts. The trainer operates at a 6% strike rate at Clonmel from 18 runs while this is the horse's first appearance here. Jordan Canavan claims 7lb for the combination that has a 3% record from 33 runners. His mid-division run-style, typically settling in midfield, could prove well suited if the strong pace collapses late as the shape suggests.
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5Lambay Island53/100
Lambay Island is a smart performer on his figures with useful placed form last season. He was well beaten on return and now steps up markedly in trip having shown little on his one previous attempt at this range. Henry de Bromhead has an 18% strike rate at Clonmel from 423 runs which is above their record elsewhere though the horse has no previous experience here and is 0 from 1 on good ground. Mike O'Connor rides for the yard and jockey combination that has an 11% record from 442 runners. Usually prominent and racing handily with high confidence, he faces a stiff task on the figures in a race with a strong early gallop.
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6Grange Walk52/100
Grange Walk is a useful 11-year-old with a solid course record here, finishing placed on three of his five visits to Clonmel. He steps up in trip today having won at this distance in the past, though his recent form of 36B776 is patchy and he has only one win from 13 starts on good ground. The trainer operates at a 9% strike rate at Clonmel, in line with his overall record. His held-up run-style could be advantageous if the race collapses late.
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7Gatsby Grey51/100
Gatsby Grey is a useful performer on his day but arrives out of form after three pulled-ups and a poor return last time. He has shown little at this track or on good ground, and dropping back from three miles raises a fresh question at a trip where he has achieved nothing in one previous attempt. The trainer’s 11% strike rate at Clonmel is in line with his record elsewhere. Usually held up, he may benefit if the strong pace takes its toll.
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8Ned In The Park50/100
Ned In The Park is a smart performer with solid placed efforts on good ground and a win from three runs at Clonmel. He steps up in trip today having last run over 2m1½f so that remains a fresh question. Trainer operates at a 6% strike rate here from 263 runs in line with their record elsewhere. His front-running style means he will set or dispute the strong pace.
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9Ceroc49/100
Ceroc is a smart performer who has placed on two of his three runs at Clonmel without winning. He drops back from 3m1f to a trip where he has been placed once in three starts and holds an official rating of 107. Trainer records a 5% strike rate here from 206 runs, in line with his overall figure, while the jockey has a 13% strike rate at the track from 77 rides. He tends to make the running or race on the pace.
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10Woodstream Lad47/100
Woodstream Lad is a smart performer who won here from two runs and also has a win at today's trip on his record. Recent form includes a victory last time out yet he carries an official rating of 107 and has only one win from ten starts on good ground. Trainer at Clonmel is 0 from 6. Usually held up, he could be well placed if the strong pace collapses.
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11Palace Boy41/100
Palace Boy is a useful performer on his day but arrives in modest form having failed to finish in the frame in four of his last five starts. He has run only once at Clonmel and finished tenth, while the trainer’s 7% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere. Stepping up in trip today is an unknown for a horse that has been competitive on good ground without winning. His held-up style may suit if the pace is as strong as anticipated.
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12Prince Palace40/100
Prince Palace is a useful performer who has shown bits of form this season, most recently finishing second in a handicap chase at Limerick. Only one previous run at Clonmel resulted in a modest fifth and he has failed to place in two starts on good ground. He drops back in trip today having won at this distance in the past. Usually prominent, he will be handy in a race expected to be strongly run.
KTB verdict
Banjaxed is the KTB Selection and looks to have the best blend of ability and trip suitability in a race where several unknowns exist around course form and distance. On his official rating of 112 and with a win at this trip already on his record, he has the class to take advantage if the prominent runners pay for the strong early pace. Charlie Luciano and Kings Jet head the dangers, both smart on their day and with prominent styles that could see them go well for a long way if the gallop does not become unsustainable. Duty Bound and Lambay Island round out the principals, each with points in their favour but questions to answer on the balance of supplied form and trends.
KTB Selection Banjaxed
This is the narrative read of the 4:30 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 steps up in trip having already won at this distance?
Banjaxed, who has won once from three starts at this distance.
How many front-runners or prominent racers are there likely to ensure a strong pace?
Multiple, including Banjaxed, Charlie Luciano, Kings Jet, Lambay Island, Ned In The Park, Ceroc and Prince Palace.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Clonmel among those represented?
Henry de Bromhead with an 18% strike rate at Clonmel from 423 runs.
Which horse has the best course record at Clonmel?
Grange Walk, who has been placed on three of five visits.
Who is the only horse to have won at both Clonmel and today's trip?
Woodstream Lad, who won here from two runs and also has a win at today's trip.
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