4:52 Killarney
This 2m7f Europe Hotel And Resort Handicap Steeplechase (Div II) at Killarney brings together an 18-runner field where useful and fair performers rub shoulders in a competitive heat. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Temptationinmilan heading the numbers on 62, followed closely by Schiehallion, Kilkee Bay and Embrace The Day all in the mid-50s. Several runners step up or drop in trip while many remain unproven on the ground, adding layers of uncertainty to a race that looks full of unknowns.
How the race shapes up
With plenty of hold-up types and only limited confirmed front-runners in the field, the pace shape is likely to be on the steady side early on. Several principals such as Temptationinmilan and Schiehallion tend to race prominently or in mid-division, which could see them well placed if the tempo does not lift until late. The key question is whether the race develops into a test of stamina up the hill or if those with a turn of foot at the shorter trips can quicken off a slow gallop.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Temptationinmilan KTB Selection62/100Useful performer who has finished fourth on both previous visits to Killarney.
- 2Schiehallion57/100Useful performer who has been out of form this season with a string of poor efforts including two pulled up.
- 3Kilkee Bay56/100Kilkee Bay is a useful performer on his day but has been inconsistent of late and failed to complete in both previous runs here.
- 4Embrace The Day56/100Useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent win.
- 5Watty Show53/100Fair performer who has struggled to make an impact this year with recent form of 7P0-78.
- 6Amburana51/100Fair performer who has shown little spark on either start this year.
- 7U Asking Me50/100Fair performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and was pulled up or well beaten on his last three completed outings.
- 8Huntsgrove50/100Huntsgrove is a useful performer who has shown consistent form without winning lately.
- 9Stretchemout50/100Useful performer who has shown enough in races up to 2m6½f to suggest this longer trip could suit.
- 10The Rebel County50/100The Rebel County has shown useful form this year with a string of solid placed efforts but his latest run was poor and he has failed to win in 16 starts.
- 11Ferdia48/100Ferdia is a fair 10-year-old who has shown his best form around here with a second and a third from three runs at Killarney.
- 12The Border Boy48/100Modest performer who has shown little spark in two runs this year and was well held when last seen over 2m6f.
- 13Parkgarve48/100Useful performer who arrives in reasonable nick judged on his recent 865 efforts over shorter.
- 14Oogum Boogum46/100Fair performer who has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placings from his last four starts.
- 15My Cullen43/100My Cullen is a useful performer on his best days but has been well below that level in three starts this year and was pulled up on his most recent outing.
- 16Three Tribes42/100Fair performer who won a handicap over fences last season but has been out of form since.
- 17Robin Elite40/100Modest performer who has struggled badly of late with a string of pulled-ups and poor finishes.
- 18Cullenwaine34/100Cullenwaine is a fair handicapper who has run respectably on his last three starts but has never won in 38 career runs.
The contenders
Temptationinmilan KTB Fit 62/100
Temptationinmilan is a useful performer who has finished fourth on both previous visits to Killarney. He steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance in the past, though he remains unproven on the ground. The trainer holds a solid 13% strike rate here from eight runs. Recent form of P450-7 is mixed but the course placings suggest he can be competitive again. The 10-year-old is the KTB Selection and looks to have the best blend of course experience and proven ability at the trip among the leading lights.
Schiehallion KTB Fit 57/100
Schiehallion is a useful performer who has been out of form this season with a string of poor efforts including two pulled up. First time headgear is now tried as he drops back to 2m7f where he has never been placed. Trainer has an 11% strike rate from 19 runs at Killarney while the jockey has had too few rides here to judge. The 9-year-old's recent form reads FP2-P5 and he remains unproven on the ground. Connections will hope the new headgear can spark a revival off his current mark.
Kilkee Bay KTB Fit 56/100
Kilkee Bay is a useful performer on his day but has been inconsistent of late and failed to complete in both previous runs here. The step up to 2m7f asks a fresh question while he remains unproven on this ground, though the first-time headgear could help him settle better. The trainer’s modest 6% strike rate at Killarney is offset by the jockey’s solid 17% record from a small sample at the track. Recent form of F6-U81 includes a recent success and the 7-year-old cannot be ruled out if the headgear has the desired effect.
Embrace The Day KTB Fit 56/100
Embrace The Day is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent win. Drops back slightly in trip having already scored at this distance and first-time headgear is an interesting addition. Trainer's modest 7% strike rate at Killarney is a negative while the horse has no experience of this ground. The 5-year-old's form of 884-51 shows progressive signs and the booking of Keith Donoghue is a plus. He could go well if the headgear helps him produce his best.
Watty Show KTB Fit 53/100
Watty Show is a fair performer who has struggled to make an impact this year with recent form of 7P0-78. Steps up in trip today to 2m7f which asks a fresh question while he remains unproven on the ground. Trainer has a 16% strike rate from 408 runs at Killarney. The 6-year-old is trained by Henry De Bromhead, a major plus at this venue. He will need to improve on recent efforts but is not without hope if the longer trip brings about progress.
The rest of the field
AmburanaKTB Fit 51/100
Amburana is a fair performer who has shown little spark on either start this year. Has run twice at this track without placing and is unproven on the ground as well as stepping up markedly in trip today. Trainer has a solid 14% strike rate at Killarney from a smallish sample.
U Asking MeKTB Fit 50/100
U Asking Me is a fair performer who has shown little spark in recent starts and was pulled up or well beaten on his last three completed outings. He has run twice at this track without placing and steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact at around this distance before. First-time headgear is now applied while the trainer's modest 8% strike rate here from a big sample is offset by the jockey's solid 17% record from his small number of rides.
HuntsgroveKTB Fit 50/100
Huntsgrove is a useful performer who has shown consistent form without winning lately. He has twice finished fifth here over shorter trips and now steps up in distance having failed to trouble the judge in three previous tries at this sort of range. The trainer's modest record at Killarney adds a note of caution while the jockey has had too few rides at the track to assess.
StretchemoutKTB Fit 50/100
Stretchemout is a useful performer who has shown enough in races up to 2m6½f to suggest this longer trip could suit. First run at Killarney for a yard with a 0% strike rate from 13 attempts here, though jockey Darragh O'Keeffe has a solid 16% record from 177 rides at the track. Steps up in trip wearing headgear for the first time with no experience of this ground.
The Rebel CountyKTB Fit 50/100
The Rebel County has shown useful form this year with a string of solid placed efforts but his latest run was poor and he has failed to win in 16 starts. He has course experience here but has not threatened to score and steps up in trip for the first time in headgear. Trainer strike rate at Killarney is 0% from 21 runs while the jockey is operating at 4% from 27 rides.
FerdiaKTB Fit 48/100
Ferdia is a fair 10-year-old who has shown his best form around here with a second and a third from three runs at Killarney. He arrives in modest nick after two pulled-ups and two well-beaten efforts this year, and the drop back to 2m7f asks a fresh question having failed to land a blow at the trip in four previous attempts. Trainer John Patrick Ryan has a 6% strike rate from 145 runs at the track while jockey Daniel King posts a 13% strike rate from 56 rides.
The Border BoyKTB Fit 48/100
The Border Boy is a modest performer who has shown little spark in two runs this year and was well held when last seen over 2m6f. Steps up in trip for the first time today while wearing headgear for the first time, both of which pose fresh questions. Trainer has a solid 9% strike rate at Killarney from 56 runs but the jockey is operating at just 7% from 291 rides here.
ParkgarveKTB Fit 48/100
Parkgarve is a useful performer who arrives in reasonable nick judged on his recent 865 efforts over shorter. He steps up markedly in trip today while wearing first-time headgear, both of which pose fresh questions. Trainer has had only two runners at Killarney so far and the horse has never been here before.
Oogum BoogumKTB Fit 46/100
Oogum Boogum is a fair performer who has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placings from his last four starts. He steps up in trip today having been placed both previous runs at this distance though he is unproven on the ground and makes his first appearance at Killarney. First-time headgear is now fitted while the trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates at the track.
My CullenKTB Fit 43/100
My Cullen is a useful performer on his best days but has been well below that level in three starts this year and was pulled up on his most recent outing. He steps up in trip today having placed once at this distance without winning and tries headgear for the first time. The trainer's modest 5 percent strike rate at Killarney and the jockey's poor record there add to the negatives on a day when the horse remains unproven on the ground.
Three TribesKTB Fit 42/100
Three Tribes is a fair performer who won a handicap over fences last season but has been out of form since. Steps up in trip today with first-time headgear and remains unproven on this ground. Trainer has had only two runners at the track so far.
Robin EliteKTB Fit 40/100
Robin Elite is a modest performer who has struggled badly of late with a string of pulled-ups and poor finishes. Has tried this trip twice without success and now drops back from three miles while wearing headgear for the first time. Trainer's modest 6 percent strike rate at Killarney from a big sample offers little encouragement and the horse remains unproven on this ground.
CullenwaineKTB Fit 34/100
Cullenwaine is a fair handicapper who has run respectably on his last three starts but has never won in 38 career runs. He has shown some ability at this trip without scoring and the first-time headgear could sharpen him up, yet he is unproven on the ground and his record here reads 5th, UR and 8th from three visits. The trainer has had too few runners at Killarney to judge while the jockey's modest 3% strike-rate from 32 rides adds little confidence.
KTB verdict
Temptationinmilan stands out as the KTB Selection on the strength of his course form and proven ability at this sort of trip. The 10-year-old has finished fourth on both previous visits to Killarney and steps up in distance having been placed without winning at 2m7f in the past. He looks to have the best profile in a race where many have questions to answer on ground or trip. Main dangers include Embrace The Day, who arrives in decent nick after a recent win, and Kilkee Bay if the first-time headgear helps him settle. Schiehallion and Watty Show are others who could feature if they bounce back to form.
KTB Selection Temptationinmilan
This is the narrative read of the 4:52 Killarney. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Killarney racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Killarney among the principals?
Temptationinmilan has finished fourth on both previous visits to Killarney.
How many of the principals are wearing first-time headgear?
Three of the top five principals are wearing first-time headgear: Schiehallion, Kilkee Bay and Embrace The Day.
Which trainer has the best strike rate at Killarney among those with a principal runner?
Henry De Bromhead has a 16% strike rate from 408 runs at Killarney with Watty Show.
Which horse is stepping up markedly in trip according to the KTB notes?
Amburana, Parkgarve and Stretchemout are all stepping up markedly in trip.
Who is the only horse in the field with placed course form at Killarney?
Ferdia has shown his best form around here with a second and a third from three runs at Killarney.
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