7:55 Tramore
The Dan Cowman Memorial Handicap at Tramore is a 2m0f0y Flat contest on good ground featuring a field of 14 limited performers. With the KTB Fit scores topped by Bynx on 59 and a cluster of others in the low-to-mid 50s, the race looks competitive on paper yet lacking depth, as most runners arrive with modest recent form and questions to answer. The steadily-run, tactical nature of the race on this track should place emphasis on those who can be handy enough without using up too much energy early.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run affair in which being positioned handy will pay dividends. With the 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 tactical sprint for the line from around the home turn. The key question is whether any horse can quicken effectively off a steady gallop or whether the race will fall to something that has conserved energy and is well-placed to strike.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Bynx KTB Selection59/100Limited sort who has won three times at Tramore from eight runs and also has two wins at today's trip.
- 2God Of Thunder54/100Limited performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of modest efforts.
- 3Vervain53/100Limited performer who has shown little spark in two runs this season and now steps up markedly in trip for the first time.
- 4Stone Rulya53/100Modest performer who has shown little spark in two runs at this track and remains winless on good ground from six attempts.
- 5Fine Print46/100Limited horse who has been around a bit and showed some competitiveness when placed twice on good ground.
- 6Kings Gesture46/100Limited performer who has struggled since a modest debut fifth, finishing well beaten on all four starts this year.
- 7Gallo Dell Cielo43/100Limited class performer who has shown enough to be competitive on good ground.
- 8Highway Sixty One42/100Limited horse who has shown bits of form but remains winless after 18 runs.
- 9Lariat39/100Limited performer who has been placed on his only previous run at Tramore and has also shown form at today's 2m trip.
- 10Maxwell Smart38/100Limited performer who has been struggling for consistency lately and now tries a new trip and first-time headgear.
- 11Bhean Saibhre35/100Limited performer who has shown consistent but modest form of late, finishing in the frame on her last four starts without threatening to win.
- 12Fire Coral33/100Limited performer who has shown very little in recent starts and arrives here in poor form.
- 13Crypto Crash33/100Limited performer who has struggled badly in recent starts and now tries first-time headgear off the back of two heavy defeats.
- 14Synchronize31/100Limited performer who has shown little at this track in three runs and remains winless in six attempts at today's trip.
The contenders
Bynx KTB Fit 59/100
Bynx is an eight-year-old with a fine record at Tramore, having won three times from eight runs here and twice at today's trip. His recent form has been patchy but the sixth at this track last time represented a step back in the right direction for a limited sort. Martin Hassett holds a solid 16% strike rate at the venue with an A/E of 1.52 from 19 runs, though Ben Coen's 12% strike rate from 26 rides is more modest. The horse usually races held up and produces his effort late, which should suit the anticipated tactical pace shape, and he has shown he can win on good ground with three successes from 17 attempts. Drawn in stall 2, he has the profile to go well.
God Of Thunder KTB Fit 54/100
God Of Thunder is a seven-year-old limited performer who has been out of form for some time, registering a string of modest efforts. He drops back to a trip at which he has placed but never won, and first-time headgear is now tried in a bid to spark improvement. Denis Gerard Hogan and Daniel King both have solid records at Tramore, the trainer at 10% strike rate with an A/E of 0.99 from 132 runs and the jockey at 11% with an A/E of 1.06 from 56 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be suited by the steadily-run nature of the race, though his overall profile remains modest. He has handled good ground with two wins from 14 attempts.
Vervain KTB Fit 53/100
Vervain is a four-year-old limited performer who has shown little spark in two runs this season and now steps up markedly in trip for the first time. He has a fair recent effort over hurdles here at Tramore but remains a maiden on the Flat. David Harry Kelly's 10% strike rate at the track from 77 runs with an A/E of 1.26 offers only modest encouragement, while Jimmy Dalton is yet to score from two rides here. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he should be well suited by the tactical pace. First-time headgear is tried on ground he has handled, with one win from nine attempts on good.
Stone Rulya KTB Fit 53/100
Stone Rulya is a modest four-year-old performer who has shown little spark in two runs at this track and remains winless on good ground from six attempts. He steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in four previous tries at this distance. Eoin Doyle has a 12% strike rate at Tramore with an A/E of 0.92 from a large sample of 448 runs. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, his run-style should align with the steadily-run shape of the race. First-time headgear is now applied in the hope of eliciting improvement.
Fine Print KTB Fit 46/100
Fine Print is a limited five-year-old who has been around a bit and showed some competitiveness when placed twice on good ground from 16 attempts. He drops back to a trip he has won at in the past though he was only seventh when he tried this track once before. John C McConnell has a solid 13% strike rate at Tramore with an A/E of 1.11 from 128 runs, though the claiming jockey Sam Coen is still seeking a first winner here from five rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he should be suited by the tactical pace. First-time headgear is now fitted.
The rest of the field
Kings GestureKTB Fit 46/100
Kings Gesture is a limited performer who has struggled since a modest debut fifth, finishing well beaten on all four starts this year. He steps up in trip today having shown little at 1m5f last time and first-time headgear is now applied, with both trainer and jockey making their first appearance at Tramore.
Gallo Dell CieloKTB Fit 43/100
Gallo Dell Cielo is a limited class performer who has shown enough to be competitive on good ground and has won once at this trip from just two attempts. He arrives in decent form after a win and a placed effort this year, with the trainer holding a solid 12% strike-rate at Tramore from 458 runs, though the jockey is hard to assess from a small sample.
Highway Sixty OneKTB Fit 42/100
Highway Sixty One is a limited horse who has shown bits of form but remains winless after 18 runs. He has been placed over course and distance but has been out of form on his last two starts and now tries first-time headgear, with both trainer and jockey holding modest records at Tramore.
LariatKTB Fit 39/100
Lariat is a limited performer who has been placed on his only previous run at Tramore and has also shown form at today's 2m trip. He drops back in distance after a recent 2m3f effort and now tries headgear for the first time, with the trainer on a modest 7% strike-rate here and the jockey at 4% from 100 rides at the track.
Maxwell SmartKTB Fit 38/100
Maxwell Smart is a limited performer who has been struggling for consistency lately and now tries a new trip and first-time headgear. He has placed once at this distance but is stepping up from 1m5f and has only one win from 15 runs on good ground, while the trainer's modest 4% strike-rate at Tramore adds little encouragement.
Bhean SaibhreKTB Fit 35/100
Bhean Saibhre is a limited performer who has shown consistent but modest form of late, finishing in the frame on her last four starts without threatening to win. She drops back to 2m having been placed at the trip before, handles good ground and tries first-time headgear on her debut at Tramore where the trainer is yet to score from 13 attempts.
Fire CoralKTB Fit 33/100
Fire Coral is a limited performer who has shown very little in recent starts and arrives here in poor form. He has been tried over this trip four times without success and is now dropping back from 3m, with first-time headgear a last resort as the trainer holds a modest record at Tramore and the jockey has no wins from nine rides here.
Crypto CrashKTB Fit 33/100
Crypto Crash is a limited performer who has struggled badly in recent starts and now tries first-time headgear off the back of two heavy defeats. He has shown a bit of ability on good ground in the past but remains winless after 20 starts and is dropping back in trip today having failed to make the frame at this distance before.
SynchronizeKTB Fit 31/100
Synchronize is a limited performer who has shown little at this track in three runs and remains winless in six attempts at today's trip. Recent form offers a glimmer of competitiveness on good ground but the overall picture is one of a modest operator who struggles to get involved, with the trainer's modest 6% strike-rate at Tramore adding no encouragement.
KTB verdict
Bynx stands out as the KTB Selection on a mark of 59. His three wins from eight runs at Tramore, coupled with two victories at today's trip and a recent step back in the right direction when sixth here, give him the strongest profile in a race full of limited sorts. The steadily-run pace should play to his strengths as a horse held up off the pace, and the yard's solid record at the venue adds further positives. The main dangers are likely to come from God Of Thunder, who has solid trainer and jockey Tramore figures despite his modest form, and Vervain, whose first-time headgear and step up in trip introduce unknowns but who has shown some ability over hurdles at the track.
KTB Selection Bynx
This is the narrative read of the 7:55 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 has the strongest course record at Tramore?
Bynx has won three times from eight runs at Tramore.
How many of the principals are trying first-time headgear?
Three of the five principals – God Of Thunder, Vervain and Stone Rulya – are fitted with first-time headgear.
What does the pace shape suggest for race tactics?
The race lacks a leader and is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
Which trainer has the best strike rate at Tramore among those with significant runners?
Martin Hassett has a 16% strike rate at Tramore with an A/E of 1.52 from 19 runs.
How many runners in the full field are wearing first-time headgear?
Ten of the 14 runners are fitted with first-time headgear.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies