Bobby Kirova
Bobby Kirova broke his duck this week at Clonmel, and it came as a relief. The four-year-old had rattled through ten races without a win before finally getting his nose in front on October 1st, taking a long-distance race over two miles. It is not the sort of win rate that sets the pulse racing — one win from eleven starts puts him at roughly one win per dozen races — but that debut victory matters more than the numbers suggest, because it proves he can get the job done when conditions suit him.Based on TrackLab's analysis
📊 Key numbers
Career totals for this horse
🔍 Full analysis
Our model's view, based on this horse's career and recent runs
The pattern is clear in his record: Bobby Kirova thrives at distance. Over two miles or longer, he has won one of his five races, a twenty percent win rate that is nearly double his overall average. Shorter races have been a graveyard for him. Michael Butler, his trainer, appears to have found the formula by steering him toward the longer trips, and that breakthrough at Clonmel suggests the approach is working. His recent form is patchy — three third-place finishes and two sixth-place efforts in his last six starts — but the win this week shows he can still find his feet when asked to stay and battle. This is a horse that may never be anything more than a steady campaigner, but he has given his yard and the yard a genuine reason to keep him in training.
⚡ Strengths and risks
What helps this horse and what to watch out for
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 1 wins from 4 starts (25%)
✔ Well suited by Long Distance (2m+) distances: 20% win rate
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on soft ground: 0 wins from 3 starts
🎯 Where this horse runs best
Results split by ground, distance, race level and track shape
🌧 Ground
Good (a little give)
Loves
Good to yielding (mild give)
Unknown
Yielding (slightly soft)
Unknown
📏 Race distance
Long Distance (2M+)
Loves
🏟 Track shape
Right-handed, tight turns
Loves
Right-handed, tight
Unknown
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Left-handed, tight turns
Unknown
Right-handed, long straights
Unknown
📅 Recent runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
1 Oct
🏆 Won
Clonmel
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 19 runners
3 Sep
3rd
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 17 runners
16 Aug
6th
Tramore
Long Distance (2m+) · Good_To_Yielding · 10 runners
24 Jul
6th
Kilbeggan
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 15 runners
12 Jul
3rd
Sligo
Long Distance (2m+) · Good · 12 runners
12 Jun
DNF
Gowran Park
1m1f – 1m2f · Yielding · 18 runners
11 May
13th
Roscommon
1m6f – 2m · Good · 18 runners
8 Apr
DNF
Gowran Park
1m1f – 1m2f · Soft · 14 runners
2 Nov
21th
The Curragh
1m6f – 2m · Heavy · 24 runners
13 Oct
3rd
Roscommon
1m3f – 1m4f · Soft · 12 runners
🏇 Jockeys
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, most rides first
🏟 Course record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|
| Roscommon Sharp |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
11 May |
0% |
| Gowran Park Undulating |
2 |
2 other |
12 Jun |
0% |
| Kilbeggan Tight |
2 |
1 third, 1 other |
3 Sep |
0% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
1 |
1 win |
1 Oct |
100% |
| Sligo Sharp |
1 |
1 third |
12 Jul |
0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
2 Nov |
0% |
| Tramore Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
16 Aug |
0% |
| Bellewstown Sharp |
1 |
1 other |
1 Oct |
0% |