7:45 Killarney
The 7:45 at Killarney is a 2m1f0y Gallivan Financial Handicap Steeplechase on good ground, featuring a field of nine where the KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top. The principals are headed by Crowsatedappletart on 69, followed closely by Femme Magnifique on 67, Costacurta on 65 and Stuntman Steve on 55, with the remainder ranging from 55 down to 44. Overall the numbers point to a competitive tactical affair in which proven class on good ground and course aptitude will carry significant weight.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks a leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical race in which being handy should pay dividends. With the majority of the field, including all four principals, tending to be held up, the early fractions are likely to be modest and the race will develop into a test of timing in the last half-mile. The key question is whether any horse can produce a telling late effort off a steady gallop or whether the prominent runner Costacurta can turn the race into a more positive test from the front.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Crowsatedappletart KTB Selection69/100High-class performer with a solid career record who has shown his best on good ground, winning four times from 16 starts.
- 2Femme Magnifique67/100High-class performer with a strong recent record of 73-121 and proven course connections having won here from two starts.
- 3Costacurta65/100Costacurta is a high-class performer with solid placed efforts on his last three starts and a strong recent record that includes a win on good ground.
- 4Stuntman Steve55/100Stuntman Steve is a smart performer on his day with a solid ratings profile and proven placed form at this trip.
- 5Kilbrin Rocco55/100Smart performer who has shown his best around here before but was well held on his only previous run at Killarney.
- 6War Correspondent50/100High-class performer on his day with a solid career record that includes a win at this trip.
- 7Beauforts Storm46/100Beauforts Storm is a smart performer on his best days and has placed on good ground.
- 8Piccolo Player45/100Piccolo Player is a useful performer who has been consistent of late with three placed efforts from his last four starts.
- 9Ballybrittas44/100Ballybrittas is a useful performer who showed his best form when winning at this trip last season.
The contenders
Crowsatedappletart KTB Fit 69/100
Crowsatedappletart is a high-class performer with a solid career record who has shown his best on good ground, winning four times from 16 starts. He drops back in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance, while the first-time headgear is an unknown. Only one previous run at Killarney resulted in a tailed-off 13th. Michael Winters has no record at the track from six runs, but Michael Kenneally brings an 18% strike rate and A/E of 1.27 from 17 rides at Killarney. The 9-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. His recent form reads 176-16.
Femme Magnifique KTB Fit 67/100
Femme Magnifique is a high-class performer with a strong recent record of 73-121 and proven course connections having won here from two starts. She has won at this trip and acts well on good ground with two wins and four places from six runs. The yard's modest 9% strike-rate at Killarney is worth noting. David Harry Kelly's overall record at the track stands at 9% from 91 runs with an A/E of 0.93, while Danny Gilligan is 10% from 52 rides with an A/E of 0.77. The 8-year-old is usually held up and produces her effort late.
Costacurta KTB Fit 65/100
Costacurta is a high-class performer with solid placed efforts on his last three starts and a strong recent record that includes a win on good ground. He drops back in trip today having failed to land a blow over two and a half miles last time, which asks a fresh question of him. Henry De Bromhead has a 16% strike rate at Killarney from 413 runs with an A/E of 1.00, though Darragh O'Keeffe is yet to ride a winner here from only 12 attempts. The 6-year-old usually races handily, on or close to the lead. His recent form reads 73-324.
Stuntman Steve KTB Fit 55/100
Stuntman Steve is a smart performer on his day with a solid ratings profile and proven placed form at this trip. He has run well enough round here before but his recent form is patchy and the first-time headgear is an unknown. Gavin Cromwell's modest 7% strike rate at Killarney from 212 runs carries a note of caution, though the combination with Eoghan Finegan shows a 19% record from 42 rides with an A/E of 1.21. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late. His recent form reads 55-PU5.
The rest of the field
Kilbrin RoccoKTB Fit 55/100
Kilbrin Rocco is a smart performer who has shown his best around here before but was well held on his only previous run at Killarney. He drops back in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning, and the first-time headgear is an interesting addition. Eoin Christopher McCarthy's modest 9% strike-rate at the track is offset by a solid A/E of 1.14 from 123 runs. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late.
War CorrespondentKTB Fit 50/100
War Correspondent is a high-class performer on his day with a solid career record that includes a win at this trip. He drops back in distance today having been running over slightly farther and now tries first-time headgear after a string of ordinary efforts. John Joseph Hanlon has a modest 5% strike rate at Killarney from 186 runs. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late.
Beauforts StormKTB Fit 46/100
Beauforts Storm is a smart performer on his best days and has placed on good ground. He steps up in trip today having won over this distance before though his recent form is modest and he has failed to place in two runs at Killarney. Timothy Doyle operates at a 6% strike rate here from 155 runs. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late.
Piccolo PlayerKTB Fit 45/100
Piccolo Player is a useful performer who has been consistent of late with three placed efforts from his last four starts. He has already shown he handles this trip and has a placed run on this track, though he is yet to win on good ground from limited attempts. John Patrick Ryan's modest 6% strike-rate at Killarney adds a note of caution. The 5-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late.
BallybrittasKTB Fit 44/100
Ballybrittas is a useful performer who showed his best form when winning at this trip last season. He has already placed on good ground and steps back up in distance today having last run over shorter. P J Rothwell's modest 6% strike rate at Killarney is a negative though the horse has some course experience. The 7-year-old is usually held up and produces his effort late.
KTB verdict
Crowsatedappletart is the KTB Selection. A high-class performer with a solid career record who has shown his best on good ground, he looks to have the ideal conditions for a big run back at this shorter trip. The first-time headgear remains an unknown and his sole previous Killarney run was poor, yet the combination of ability and the tactical nature of the race plays to his strengths as a late runner. The main dangers are headed by Femme Magnifique, who boasts strong course form and recent confidence, while Costacurta's prominent style could prove effective if he handles the drop in trip. Stuntman Steve cannot be entirely ruled out if the new headgear sparks a revival.
KTB Selection Crowsatedappletart
This is the narrative read of the 7:45 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 is dropping back in trip having been placed without winning at this distance?
Crowsatedappletart.
Who is the only prominent runner among the principals?
Costacurta.
Which horse has won at Killarney from two starts?
Femme Magnifique.
How many of the field are wearing first-time headgear?
Four horses: Crowsatedappletart, Stuntman Steve, Kilbrin Rocco and War Correspondent.
Which trainer has the highest strike rate at Killarney among those represented in the top four?
Henry De Bromhead with 16% from 413 runs.
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