7:36 Wexford
The Pat Farrell Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Div II) at Wexford is a 17-runner 2m4f55y contest run on good ground. With no obvious leader in a field where most runners prefer to be held up or race in midfield, the KTB numbers point to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy could prove an asset. General Clermont heads the KTB Fit rankings on 64, just ahead of Poppycon on 63, with the remainder of the field tightly bunched between 57 and 36.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and confidence is medium that the race will be steadily-run and tactical. Most of the field are held-up types who produce their effort late, though Chosen Princess is the one likely to race prominently. The key question is which of the patient runners can time their challenge best off what should be an even gallop, with being handy potentially paying in a race where position may matter more than usual.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1General Clermont KTB Selection64/100Useful performer who has won at this track from just two runs and also has a win over today's trip on his record.
- 2Poppycon63/100Poppycon is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, finishing second in two of her last three starts including over course and dis…
- 3Chosen Princess57/100Chosen Princess is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and race history.
- 4Esticky End56/100Fair sort who has won once in five runs at Wexford and arrives in decent nick after a recent handicap success.
- 5Ballyminnion Boy48/100Fair performer who has shown very little in three starts so far, finishing well beaten on each completed run.
- 6Davitts Quay45/100Fair performer who has struggled since a promising start to his career.
- 7Drumadeise44/100Drumadeise has shown very little in four starts to date and remains a fair performer at best on the balance of his form and ratings.
- 8Mother Ship43/100Mother Ship is a fair performer on the balance of her ratings and race history yet has failed to finish in the frame in her last three completed starts.
- 9Larkins Lane43/100Fair performer who has won twice this season but was well below form last time.
- 10Las Brisas Boy43/100Las Brisas Boy is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip on good ground.
- 11Thurman42/100Useful performer who showed little in two starts last season after a long absence.
- 12Laligurash41/100Laligurash is a fair sort who has failed to complete or finish in the frame in four starts so far.
- 13Little Boy Sivola40/100Fair performer who has struggled to make an impact this year and was pulled up on his most recent start.
- 14China Grill39/100China Grill is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings but has been well beaten in all four starts to date.
- 15Ballinvasas Best37/100Ballinvasas Best is a fair performer who has shown consistent but limited form, finishing fourth on his only previous visit to Wexford.
- 16Dark Berkshire37/100Fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and showed little spark when last of three at this track on his most recent start.
- 17Ballinaboola Gold36/100Fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground but remains winless after 13 runs.
The contenders
General Clermont KTB Fit 64/100
General Clermont is a useful performer who has won at this track from just two runs and also has a win over today's trip on his record. His recent form of 6-4P90 is patchy and he is 0 from 21 on good ground in recent seasons. The yard's modest 8% strike-rate at Wexford adds little encouragement. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and that run-style should suit the expected steadily-run affair. He has course-winning form here and steps out in a race where being handy pays.
Poppycon KTB Fit 63/100
Poppycon is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, finishing second in two of her last three starts including over course and distance on her only visit to Wexford. The yard's modest 5% strike rate from 93 runs here is a negative but the 7lb claimer has a strong 50% record from his eight rides at the track. First-time headgear is now fitted on a horse whose lightly-raced profile means the going remains an unknown. Typically settling in midfield, she should be well placed in a tactical contest that lacks an obvious leader. Her placed effort over this course and distance marks her out as a major player.
Chosen Princess KTB Fit 57/100
Chosen Princess is a useful performer on the balance of her ratings and race history. She showed little spark when seventh on return last time but now drops back in trip to a distance she has never tried. The trainer holds a solid 9% strike rate at Wexford from 34 runs while the jockey has no recorded rides at the track. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, her prominent run-style could be an advantage in a steadily-run affair where being handy pays. With no course form on record and unproven on good ground she carries risks, yet her overall ability keeps her firmly in the mix.
Esticky End KTB Fit 56/100
Esticky End is a fair sort who has won once in five runs at Wexford and arrives in decent nick after a recent handicap success. He steps up in trip today having last run over 2m and with only one previous try at this distance that brought no joy. Trainer holds a strong record here while the jockey's strike rate is modest. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the tactical nature of the race. His course win and recent form make him one of the more solid contenders on paper.
Ballyminnion Boy KTB Fit 48/100
Ballyminnion Boy is a fair performer who has shown very little in three starts so far, finishing well beaten on each completed run. The step up in trip is an unknown and could bring improvement, though the recent form offers little encouragement. Trainer has a 6% strike rate from 47 runs at Wexford while the jockey is 9% from 55 rides here. Usually held up, he produces his effort late in a race that looks likely to suit that approach. His modest recent efforts leave him with plenty to find.
The rest of the field
Davitts QuayKTB Fit 45/100
Davitts Quay is a fair performer who has struggled since a promising start to his career. He has been well beaten in all three runs at this track and is now stepping up in trip having looked limited over shorter. Trainer and jockey both have established but modest records here.
DrumadeiseKTB Fit 44/100
Drumadeise has shown very little in four starts to date and remains a fair performer at best on the balance of his form and ratings. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from nine runs at Wexford while the 7lb claimer brings a solid 14% record from just seven rides here. Stepping up markedly in trip is a fresh question for a horse whose going preference is still unknown from such a light career.
Mother ShipKTB Fit 43/100
Mother Ship is a fair performer on the balance of her ratings and race history yet has failed to finish in the frame in her last three completed starts. She has placed at today's trip and on this ground without winning, while first-time headgear is now fitted in the hope of sparking improvement. The trainer's modest 7% strike rate at Wexford is offset by the jockey's stronger 15% record at the track.
Larkins LaneKTB Fit 43/100
Larkins Lane is a fair performer who has won twice this season but was well below form last time. Has winning form at this trip and has scored on good ground, though his sole run here was poor. Trainer's modest strike-rate at Wexford and the jockey's lack of success at the track add further negatives.
Las Brisas BoyKTB Fit 43/100
Las Brisas Boy is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip on good ground. He arrives in reasonable nick after a solid fifth last time but has yet to win in nine starts and first-time headgear is now applied. The trainer has had too few runners at Wexford to judge while the jockey’s 2% strike rate from 50 rides here is modest.
ThurmanKTB Fit 42/100
Thurman is a useful performer who showed little in two starts last season after a long absence. Has a previous run at this track but could manage only fifth, and steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge over a similar distance before. Trainer operates at a 7% strike rate here from 46 runs while the jockey is still seeking a first winner from 14 rides at Wexford.
LaligurashKTB Fit 41/100
Laligurash is a fair sort who has failed to complete or finish in the frame in four starts so far. The yard has a 0% strike rate from six runs at Wexford. Stepping up in trip is an unknown and the small sample on this ground leaves suitability open to question.
Little Boy SivolaKTB Fit 40/100
Little Boy Sivola is a fair performer who has struggled to make an impact this year and was pulled up on his most recent start. He steps up in trip with first-time headgear and has no strong record on good ground from three previous attempts. The trainer operates at a 6% strike rate from 318 runs at Wexford.
China GrillKTB Fit 39/100
China Grill is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings but has been well beaten in all four starts to date. The trainer has yet to register a winner from 11 runners at Wexford while the jockey holds a solid 12 percent strike rate from 188 rides here. He steps up markedly in trip today and with only four runs on the board the going remains an unknown.
Ballinvasas BestKTB Fit 37/100
Ballinvasas Best is a fair performer who has shown consistent but limited form, finishing fourth on his only previous visit to Wexford. He steps up in trip today having last run over 2m1½f, a move that asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has too small a sample at the track to judge while the jockey operates at a 10% strike rate from 29 rides here.
Dark BerkshireKTB Fit 37/100
Dark Berkshire is a fair performer who has been largely out of form this year and showed little spark when last of three at this track on his most recent start. Course record reads poorly with two heavy defeats and the trainer and jockey both have modest strike rates here. First-time headgear is now applied as he steps up in trip for the first time.
Ballinaboola GoldKTB Fit 36/100
Ballinaboola Gold is a fair performer who has shown some competitiveness on good ground but remains winless after 13 runs. Has twice run creditably enough at this track without threatening to win, while the trainer's modest 2% strike-rate here adds little confidence. First-time headgear is now fitted as he drops back in trip to an untried distance.
KTB verdict
General Clermont is the KTB Selection. A useful performer with a win at this track from just two runs and a previous success over today's trip, he brings the highest Fit rating into the race despite patchy recent form. His held-up style should be well suited to what is expected to be a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy pays. Main dangers are Poppycon, whose consistent placed form at the trip includes a course-and-distance second and who benefits from a strong-claiming jockey, and Esticky End, who arrives in decent nick after a recent handicap win and boasts a good record at Wexford. Chosen Princess and Ballyminnion Boy are next in the KTB Fit order and cannot be entirely dismissed.
KTB Selection General Clermont
This is the narrative read of the 7:36 Wexford. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wexford racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course-winning form at Wexford?
General Clermont has won here from two runs and Esticky End has won here from five runs.
How many principals are likely to race prominently?
Only Chosen Princess is described as usually racing handily on or close to the lead; the other four principals are held-up or mid-division types.
Which runner brings the strongest jockey record at the track among the principals?
Poppycon’s 7lb claimer Joshua Halford has a 50% strike rate at Wexford from eight rides.
Which horses are wearing first-time headgear?
Poppycon, Mother Ship, Las Brisas Boy, Little Boy Sivola, Dark Berkshire and Ballinaboola Gold are all fitted with first-time headgear.
Which horse steps up markedly in trip from a light career?
Drumadeise steps up markedly in trip from four starts while China Grill also steps up markedly in trip from four starts.
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