5:17 Clonmel
The 5:17 at Clonmel is a 19-runner Glenary Handicap Hurdle over 2m6f170y on good ground. A competitive field lines up with several useful performers on handicap hurdles ratings around the 90-100 mark, though recent form is mixed and the trip asks fresh questions of a number of them. KTB's Fit Scores identify Ballyhahill as the clear top pick on 63, with a cluster of five principals rated in the low-to-mid 50s underlining the depth and open nature of the race.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a natural leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. With the vast majority of the field, including all five principals, tending to be held up and produce their efforts late, the race is likely to develop into a test of positioning and timing from off the pace. The key question will be whether any horse can summon a telling late run on this sharper track or whether those closer to the steady gallop will hold sway.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Ballyhahill KTB Selection63/100
Ballyhahill is a useful performer who has shown fair form on his last two starts after a promising debut. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him. Gordon Elliott has a solid 19% strike rate at Clonmel from a large sample and the 7 lb claimer Kevin Healy boasts a 50% strike rate at the track from only four rides. The four-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. With an official rating of 97 and recent form figures of 47-05 he is the KTB Selection.
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2Duke Otto56/100
Duke Otto is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this track without winning. Recent efforts have been poor and he now steps up markedly in trip having last run over 2m1f. The trainer's modest 10% strike rate here from a big sample adds a note of caution. An eight-year-old with an official rating of 98, he is held up and usually produces his effort late. He has been placed once from nine starts on good ground and has three placed efforts from six runs at Clonmel.
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3Private Policy56/100
Private Policy is a useful performer who showed a bit more when winning at this trip earlier in the season. He ran respectably when fourth over course and distance on his only previous visit here though has not convinced on good ground in his one attempt. The trainer is still seeking a first Clonmel winner from 12 runs. An eight-year-old rated 98, he is held up and usually produces his effort late. Recent form reads 404-15 and the 7 lb claimer Paddy Cleary has a 14% strike rate at the track.
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4Calzaghi53/100
Calzaghi is a useful performer who arrives in modest recent form having finished no better than ninth on his last four starts. The step up in trip is an unknown that could suit, while connections have a solid record at this venue even if the strike-rate is modest. Placed once from four runs on good ground. The six-year-old is rated 100 and held up, usually producing his effort late. Trainer E McNamara has an 8% strike rate at Clonmel from 266 runs while the 7 lb claimer is still seeking a winner at the track from 20 rides.
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5Paul Collins53/100
Paul Collins is a useful performer who has won at this trip in the past and steps back up in distance after a recent run over 2m. Placed twice from seven starts on good ground so the surface is fine though he has been out of form on his last three outings. Trainer's modest 4% strike rate at Clonmel from 23 runs is a negative. Rated 100, the six-year-old is held up and usually produces his effort late. Philip Byrnes has a 10% strike rate at the track from 52 rides.
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6Maxicourt50/100
Maxicourt is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning for some time. He has run only once at Clonmel and finished well beaten, while trainer Patrick J Duffy has failed to land a winner from 25 runs at the track. Steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question.
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7Drumconnor Hill49/100
Drumconnor Hill is a useful performer who has struggled to make an impact in recent starts, finishing pulled up on his latest outing. He has shown some ability at this trip in the past but remains lightly raced overall with only five career runs. The trainer's modest 2% strike rate at Clonmel adds a negative.
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8Sharetheknowledge48/100
Sharetheknowledge is a useful performer who has run well in defeat at this track on his last two visits, finishing second both times. He steps up in trip today for the first time and is now tried in first-time headgear, both of which are unknowns. The yard has a 0% strike rate from seven runs at Clonmel.
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9El Arco48/100
El Arco is a modest performer who has struggled since finishing seventh in a handicap hurdle last year. First-time headgear is tried today having shown little on his two most recent starts and he remains winless on good ground from four attempts. The yard has a solid 19% strike rate at Clonmel from a large sample.
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10Finnicky Filly47/100
Finnicky Filly is a modest performer with a single win from 12 starts at Clonmel. Trainer has a solid 9% strike-rate here from a large sample while the jockey has limited experience at the track. Steps up in trip today having shown little on good ground over shorter distances recently.
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11Ray Gun47/100
Ray Gun is a fair 4-year-old who has a patchy recent record and has failed to complete in two of his last three starts. He showed little on his only previous visit to Clonmel and has been beaten on all three starts on good ground. The step up in trip is an unknown at this stage.
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12Lummi Island46/100
Lummi Island is a fair performer who has been largely consistent without winning in recent starts. He steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this distance and has shown no win or place form from six runs on good ground.
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13Poetic Focus46/100
Poetic Focus is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground and at this trip. He has placed twice in his last five starts at the trip and was placed once from seven runs on good ground. He has limited experience at Clonmel having fallen on his only run here.
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14Volez Vous43/100
Volez Vous is a fair performer who has won twice from four starts at Clonmel and holds a solid 1-4 record on good ground. He steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in two previous attempts at this distance. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate from a large sample at the track is a clear negative.
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15Technology42/100
Technology is a fair handicapper who showed a bit of spark when second at Down Royal last time after a fall. He has been competitive on good ground without winning and now drops back from 3m to a trip he has tried twice before without success. This is the horse's first visit to Clonmel.
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16Kared'as de Cougny42/100
Kared'as de Cougny is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and showed little on his two previous runs at Clonmel. Dropping back from 3m is an unknown and the first-time headgear is another question mark. Trainer's modest 7% strike rate at the track adds to the negatives.
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17Vroomvroomboo41/100
Vroomvroomboo is a fair performer who has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He steps up in trip today having shown only placed form on good ground from nine attempts and no wins at this distance in two previous tries. The yard has a 0% strike rate from 21 runs at Clonmel.
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18Bangor Lady40/100
Bangor Lady is a modest performer who has shown very little in four completed starts this year and fell on her only previous visit to Clonmel. The trainer holds a 9% strike rate from 263 runs at the track. Steps up markedly in trip today with no strong clues from pedigree or prior efforts that it will suit.
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19Tedworth39/100
Tedworth is a fair performer who has been consistent enough around here without ever looking like winning. He has twice finished a respectable fourth at Clonmel and has shown he stays this trip, yet he remains winless on good ground from 12 attempts. The yard's modest 6% strike-rate at the track adds to the sense that another minor placing is the best hope.
KTB verdict
Ballyhahill stands out as the KTB Selection. A useful performer who has shown fair form on his last two starts after a promising debut, he represents a yard with a solid 19% strike rate at Clonmel and is the highest-rated horse on KTB Fit. The step up in trip poses a fresh question yet his held-up style should suit the steadily-run affair that is anticipated. Main dangers include Duke Otto with his consistent placed course form, Private Policy who has won at the trip, and the pair on 53 Fit in Calzaghi and Paul Collins who both bring placed good-ground form and potential for improvement over the longer distance.
KTB Selection Ballyhahill
This is the narrative read of the 5:17 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. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the highest KTB Fit Score and is the selection?
Ballyhahill on 63/100 is the KTB Selection.
How many principals are held up in running?
All five principals are held up and usually produce their effort late.
Which horse has won at this trip earlier in the season?
Private Policy showed a bit more when winning at this trip earlier in the season.
Which runner has the best jockey course record at Clonmel among those with data supplied?
Kevin Healy has a 50% strike rate at Clonmel from four rides.
Which horse has won twice from four starts at Clonmel?
Volez Vous has won twice from four starts at Clonmel.
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