5:40 Tramore
The 5:40 at Tramore is a 17-runner I.P.R.S. Handicap Steeplechase over 2m5f180y on good ground. A competitive field mixes useful and fair performers, many of whom are trying first-time headgear while stepping up or down in trip. The KTB Fit ratings identify Menas Miracle as the clear top horse on 73, with Dunany Point, Mercurial Sea, Pirate Island and Corkbeg completing the principals.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with two or more habitual front-runners ensuring an honest gallop that could collapse late. This shape is likely to favour hold-up horses who can produce their effort from off the pace. Dunany Point and My Cullen are the main pace influences while the majority of the field, including the selection, prefer to be held up. The key question is which of the closers can capitalise when the leaders tire in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Menas Miracle KTB Selection73/100Menas Miracle is a useful performer who has already won over this trip and at this track from four visits.
- 2Dunany Point65/100Fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and failed to complete when tried over this trip on his only previous attempt.
- 3Mercurial Sea63/100Mercurial Sea is a useful performer with solid placed form on good ground, including two seconds from his last three starts.
- 4Pirate Island62/100Useful performer who has shown some ability at this track without winning.
- 5Corkbeg59/100Corkbeg is a fair handicapper who has been consistent enough without winning for a while.
- 6Tropical Image58/100Tropical Image is a fair performer who has shown some spark lately with a placed effort on good ground and a solid second last time out.
- 7Shantou Show54/100Shantou Show is a useful performer on his day but has been inconsistent lately with a recent form line of 5P-73P.
- 8Our Zebo54/100Useful performer who has won at this trip and at Tramore itself.
- 9Thewaybackhome52/100Fair performer who has shown consistent placed form this year, finishing third on his last two starts over longer trips.
- 10Set The Tone51/100Fair performer who has shown his best form when placed over fences this year.
- 11My Cullen50/100Useful performer who has been in decent form of late and ran his best race for some time when second last time out.
- 12U Asking Me49/100Fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and has failed to win or place in three runs at Tramore.
- 13Not So Serious48/100Fair performer who showed very little on his first four starts this year before bolting up in a handicap at this trip last time.
- 14Bob The Builder45/100Fair performer who has been placed at this trip but is yet to win in either code.
- 15Robin Elite45/100Modest performer who has been pulled up on both previous visits to Tramore.
- 16Amburana45/100Fair performer who has shown some ability at this track with a third and fourth from two runs.
- 17Fr Gilligansvoyge36/100Fair performer who has placed on his last three starts and knows this track, having finished second here once from four runs.
The contenders
Menas Miracle KTB Fit 73/100
Menas Miracle is a useful performer who has already won over this trip and at this track from four visits. He showed his best form when scoring at Down Royal last time before pulling up on his latest start, and the return to good ground looks in his favour with two wins from six runs on it. First-time headgear is now applied while the yard has a solid 17% strike-rate at Tramore. The Brendan Oliver Walsh and Conor Stone-Walsh combination carries an A/E of 1.80, and the horse's run-style of being held up with a late effort should suit the expected strong pace. He has won here once from four starts at Tramore.
Dunany Point KTB Fit 65/100
Dunany Point is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and failed to complete when tried over this trip on his only previous attempt. Pulled up on his only visit to Tramore and steps up in distance again today while wearing first-time headgear. Going record on good ground offers some encouragement but overall profile remains modest. He tends to make the running or race prominently, which could leave him vulnerable if the pace collapses late. The trainer has an excellent 25% strike rate at Tramore from a small sample with an A/E of 5.78.
Mercurial Sea KTB Fit 63/100
Mercurial Sea is a useful performer with solid placed form on good ground, including two seconds from his last three starts. He steps up in trip today having failed to make an impact in one previous try at this distance, which poses a fresh question. The trainer has a 13% strike rate from 15 runs at Tramore. Usually held up and producing his effort late, his run-style aligns well with the anticipated strong pace that could favour closers. He is placed four times from six runs on good ground without winning.
Pirate Island KTB Fit 62/100
Pirate Island is a useful performer who has shown some ability at this track without winning. Has been out of form on his last two starts and steps up in trip today having failed to make the frame in two previous attempts at this distance. First-time headgear is now applied. He is usually held up with a late effort, a style that should be suited by the strong pace likely to unfold. The trainer boasts a 33% strike rate at Tramore from three runs with an A/E of 5.74, and the horse has placed twice from three starts here without winning.
Corkbeg KTB Fit 59/100
Corkbeg is a fair handicapper who has been consistent enough without winning for a while. He has never really taken to this track and steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in four previous tries at the distance. First-time headgear is an interesting move on ground he handles. Usually held up, his late-run style fits the shape that could see the front-runners come back to the field. The jockey has a 22% strike rate at Tramore from nine rides with an A/E of 1.67.
The rest of the field
Tropical ImageKTB Fit 58/100
Tropical Image is a fair performer who has shown some spark lately with a placed effort on good ground and a solid second last time out. He drops back in trip to a distance at which he has won once from two starts, though the first-time headgear is an unknown. The trainer operates at a 6% strike rate from 48 runs at Tramore.
Shantou ShowKTB Fit 54/100
Shantou Show is a useful performer on his day but has been inconsistent lately with a recent form line of 5P-73P. He has shown some competitiveness on good ground yet remains winless from six attempts, and drops back in trip today having failed to make an impact in his only previous try at this distance. First-time headgear is now applied while the trainer holds a modest 7% strike rate at Tramore from 30 runs.
Our ZeboKTB Fit 54/100
Our Zebo is a useful performer who has won at this trip and at Tramore itself. He has shown consistent form this season including a win at this track last time out though he now tries headgear for the first time. The trainer's modest 7% strike rate at Tramore adds a note of caution.
ThewaybackhomeKTB Fit 52/100
Thewaybackhome is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form this year, finishing third on his last two starts over longer trips. Drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him, while first-time headgear is now applied. Trainer has a modest 7% strike rate from 55 runs at Tramore.
Set The ToneKTB Fit 51/100
Set The Tone is a fair performer who has shown his best form when placed over fences this year. He has been well beaten in all four runs at Tramore and is dropping back in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance. First-time headgear is now applied.
My CullenKTB Fit 50/100
My Cullen is a useful performer who has been in decent form of late and ran his best race for some time when second last time out. Steps up in trip today with first-time headgear on and makes his debut at Tramore where the yard has a modest 5% strike rate from 331 runs. Placed twice from seven starts on good ground but has never won on it.
U Asking MeKTB Fit 49/100
U Asking Me is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and has failed to win or place in three runs at Tramore. Drops back in trip today having been well held over further last time, though he is only 1-13 on good ground and has never won without headgear. Trainer maintains a solid 12% strike rate at the track from a big sample.
Not So SeriousKTB Fit 48/100
Not So Serious is a fair performer who showed very little on his first four starts this year before bolting up in a handicap at this trip last time. He has already been tried once at Tramore and failed to complete, but the yard's record here is respectable and he has won on good ground. First-time headgear is now fitted.
Bob The BuilderKTB Fit 45/100
Bob The Builder is a fair performer who has been placed at this trip but is yet to win in either code. Only one previous run at Tramore and he finished eighth, while the yard's modest 7% strike rate here from a large sample suggests he will need to improve on recent efforts. First-time headgear is now applied.
Robin EliteKTB Fit 45/100
Robin Elite is a modest performer who has been pulled up on both previous visits to Tramore. Drops back in trip today having failed to complete in three runs at this distance previously, and the first-time headgear is now applied after a string of poor efforts. Trainer has a solid 10% strike rate at the track from a large sample.
AmburanaKTB Fit 45/100
Amburana is a fair performer who has shown some ability at this track with a third and fourth from two runs. Drops back in trip today having last run over 3m, though he is proven at this distance without having won. Trainer is 0-12 at Tramore while the horse is 0-3 on good ground.
Fr GilligansvoygeKTB Fit 36/100
Fr Gilligansvoyge is a fair performer who has placed on his last three starts and knows this track, having finished second here once from four runs. Drops back from 3m to a trip where he has been placed without winning, while first-time headgear is now tried. Trainer's modest 4% strike rate at Tramore tempers expectations.
KTB verdict
Menas Miracle stands out as the KTB Selection. A useful performer with prior winning form over this trip and at Tramore, he showed his best when scoring at Down Royal before a latest pull-up, and the return to good ground plays to his record of two wins from six runs on it. First-time headgear is added while the yard's solid record at the track adds confidence, and his hold-up run-style is perfectly suited to the strong pace that is expected to unfold. Main dangers include Mercurial Sea, who brings solid placed form on good ground, and Our Zebo, who has won over the trip and at this track, though both must prove themselves under the prevailing conditions and shape.
KTB Selection Menas Miracle
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 14 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Menas Miracle | 13/2 | Bet365 |
| Dunany Point | 15/2 | BresBet |
| Mercurial Sea | 9/1 | Bet365 |
| Pirate Island | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Corkbeg | 16/1 | Bet365 |
| Tropical Image | 14/1 | BresBet |
| Shantou Show | 22/1 | BresBet |
| Our Zebo | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Thewaybackhome | 9/2 | Bet365 |
| Set The Tone | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| My Cullen | 15/2 | BresBet |
| U Asking Me | 22/1 | BresBet |
| Not So Serious | 10/1 | Bet365 |
| Bob The Builder | 12/1 | BresBet |
| Robin Elite | 40/1 | BresBet |
| Amburana | 11/1 | Bet365 |
| Fr Gilligansvoyge | 12/1 | BresBet |
This is the narrative read of the 5:40 Tramore. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Tramore racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is the KTB Selection and why does its run-style matter here?
Menas Miracle is the KTB Selection. Its held-up run-style with a late effort is well suited to the strong pace that is likely to collapse late and favour hold-up horses.
How does the trainer of Menas Miracle perform at Tramore?
Brendan Oliver Walsh has a 17% strike rate at Tramore with an A/E of 1.84 from six runs.
What is the expected pace shape and which horses will make it?
Strong pace is likely with two or more habitual front-runners. Dunany Point and My Cullen are the main pace influences as front-runners.
Which principals are wearing first-time headgear?
Menas Miracle, Dunany Point, Pirate Island and Corkbeg are all wearing first-time headgear.
How many times has Mercurial Sea been placed on good ground?
Mercurial Sea has been placed four times from six runs on good ground.
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