4:38 Galway
The Anglo Printers Handicap Hurdle at Galway brings together a competitive field of 23 over 2m160y on yielding ground. With no obvious leader in a race that lacks pace on paper, the KTB numbers point to a steadily-run, tactical contest in which being handy could prove advantageous. Codger's Rock heads the KTB Fit ratings on 65 and is the selection, while several others cluster closely behind on figures between 60 and 55.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates a lack of an obvious leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy should pay. Most of the field, including all five principals, are held-up types who produce their effort late, which could leave the race vulnerable to being stolen up front or by one who gets a good position early. The key question is whether the selection can overcome his usual hold-up style in a race that may not be run to suit him, or if one of the other patient performers can time their run to perfection.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Codger's Rock KTB Selection65/100
Codger's Rock is a useful performer who has shown some decent form this year but has failed to land a blow in three starts at this trip. The yard and jockey both hold solid records at Galway with above-average A/E figures. Lightly-raced overall with too few runs to judge how the yielding ground will suit. Usually held up and produces its effort late. His recent form reads 7-2606 and he is the KTB Selection.
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2Inthenickoftime60/100
Inthenickoftime is a useful performer who won on his only previous start at Galway and has solid placed form on yielding ground. Drops back in trip today having last run over further, which looks a sensible move given he has already won at this distance. Trainer has a respectable record here while the jockey's strike rate at the track is more modest. Usually held up and produces its effort late. His recent form is 12P-03 and he has two wins from seven runs on yielding.
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3Black Bamboo57/100
Black Bamboo is a smart performer who has placed at this track and trip without winning. Recent form is patchy and he was well held on his latest start. The yard's modest record at Galway adds another negative. Usually held up and produces its effort late. He has been placed once from six runs on yielding ground and finished third on his only previous run here.
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4Jay Jay Zee55/100
Jay Jay Zee is a useful performer who has shown bits and pieces without really nailing it down. Has twice run respectably at this track without placing and his only attempt on yielding ground brought no joy. Drops back in trip today having been well held over longer last time, with the booking of the 7lb claimer a possible plus. Usually held up though with limited evidence. His recent form reads 540/F-.
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5Euro Maker55/100
Euro Maker is a useful performer who showed improved form when winning over this trip at Ballinrobe last time. He has a solid strike rate at the distance and connections have a positive A/E at Galway. The going remains an unknown on only seven career runs. Usually held up and produces its effort late. His recent form is 0P2-91 and he has been placed on his only start on yielding ground.
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6Crowsatedappletart54/100
Crowsatedappletart is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after winning at this trip on yielding ground last time. Drops back from 2m2f having been placed without winning in three of four starts at today's distance. First run at Galway for both horse and trainer.
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7Paul Collins53/100
Paul Collins is a useful performer who has won once from four runs at Galway and holds a solid record on yielding ground with one win and two places from three attempts. Drops back in trip today having been placed both previous starts at this distance though without winning. Trainer strikes at 5% here from 61 runs while jockey is operating at 2% from 42 rides.
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8I'm All In53/100
I'm All In is a useful performer on his day but has failed to complete in two of his last three starts and looks out of form on recent efforts. Steps up in trip today having been unsuccessful in three previous tries at this distance. Trainer Gordon Elliott has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 696 runs while Sam Ewing has limited experience at the track.
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9Hillstar Blues51/100
Hillstar Blues is a useful performer on his day but has been well below form in recent starts and pulled up last time. Drops back in trip having failed to make the frame in two previous runs at this distance while his sole run on yielding ground brought no joy. Trainer holds a 9% strike rate from 23 runs at Galway.
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10Mart Lane51/100
Mart Lane is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has failed to land a blow in two starts since joining this yard. He showed little at this track on his most recent run and is now tried in first-time headgear over a trip he has not handled before. The yard has a solid 13% strike rate here while Maguire is operating at 12%.
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11Beckistine50/100
Beckistine is a smart performer who has been out of form for some time with figures of 4996P- on his last five starts. The yard has a modest 5% strike rate at Galway from 22 runs while this is his first run here and he remains unproven on yielding ground. He has tried this trip twice without success.
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12Arctic Piper48/100
Arctic Piper is a useful performer who has shown bits of form over this trip in the past but has been a patchy performer overall with a recent record of P8P-F9. Has run just once at Galway, finishing fifth, while his record on yielding ground is also limited to two runs without a win or place. Trainer operates at an 8% strike rate here from 74 runs.
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13Palace Boy47/100
Palace Boy is a useful performer who has been placed twice at today's trip without winning. He has never run at Galway and is unproven on yielding ground, stepping up in trip today from his recent efforts over 2m. Trainer has a 0% strike rate from 23 runs at the track.
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14Synchronize47/100
Synchronize is a useful performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of poor efforts. Steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning and has only one run on yielding ground. Trainer has a solid 9% strike rate at Galway from 35 runs.
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15Kome Dans Un Reve46/100
Kome Dans Un Reve is a useful performer who has been below form in two starts this year after a long absence. Steps up in trip today having failed to land a blow over this distance on his last two attempts. Trainer has a solid 13% strike rate from 64 runs at Galway.
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16Colin's Friend44/100
Colin's Friend is a useful performer on the balance of his ratings who has been lightly raced. Steps up in trip today having failed to make the frame in three starts since a promising debut, though the yard's solid record at Galway offers some encouragement. Jockey Darragh O'Keeffe has a 9% strike rate from 202 rides here.
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17Dontcavein43/100
Dontcavein is a useful performer who showed fair form on the Flat last year but has been well held in two hurdle starts this spring. Steps up markedly in trip here having looked a stayer on the level, while first-time headgear is also tried. Trainer has a modest 6% strike-rate at Galway from a big sample of runners.
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18Speakasyoufind43/100
Speakasyoufind is a fair performer who has shown some ability on his better days but has been inconsistent overall. He was well beaten on his only previous run at Galway and drops back in trip today having been out of the frame both previous starts at this distance. The yard's modest record here adds little confidence and he remains unproven on yielding ground.
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19Cinnabar Moth41/100
Cinnabar Moth is a fair performer who has been consistent enough in recent months without winning. He has shown no impact in four runs at this trip and failed to place on his only start on yielding ground. The yard holds an 8% strike rate at Galway from 53 runs.
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20Million Dollar Man41/100
Million Dollar Man is a fair performer who has struggled since a promising start, finishing well beaten on all three starts this year. The yard has a modest record at Galway and the jockey is even quieter here with a low strike rate from his visits. Trip has not really sparked him so far.
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21Roc My Haarth40/100
Roc My Haarth is a useful performer who showed his best form when winning at Down Royal in May before finishing second at Limerick. Drops back in trip today having last run over 2m7f which asks a fresh question while he has failed to place in two runs on yielding ground. Trainer has a modest 3% strike rate from 30 runs at Galway.
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22I Feel Fine40/100
I Feel Fine is a fair performer who has shown little spark in two runs this year after a lengthy absence. Drops back in trip having been well held over further last time, though his sole previous try at this distance also brought no joy. Trainer and jockey both have modest records at Galway and the horse has looked limited on yielding ground.
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23Brother Hollie40/100
Brother Hollie is a useful performer who has shown steady progress and ran creditably when third at this track last time. Drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him. Trainer's record at Galway is modest from a decent-sized sample.
KTB verdict
Codger's Rock is the KTB Selection. He is a useful performer with some decent form to his name this year and the yard and jockey both bring above-average A/E figures to the table at Galway. In a steadily-run affair that may not play to his usual hold-up style, he will need to produce his effort at the right time. The main dangers are Inthenickoftime, who won on his only previous visit to the track and drops back in trip, and Black Bamboo, who has placed over course and distance despite patchy recent form.
KTB Selection Codger's Rock
This is the narrative read of the 4:38 Galway. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Galway racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Galway results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
How many runners have previous winning form at Galway?
Inthenickoftime and Paul Collins have both won at the track.
Which horse is dropping back in trip after a recent run over further?
Inthenickoftime, Jay Jay Zee, Crowsatedappletart, Paul Collins, Roc My Haarth and I Feel Fine are all dropping back in trip.
Who is wearing first-time headgear in this race?
Mart Lane and Dontcavein are both fitted with first-time headgear.
Which trainers have the strongest A/E records at Galway in this field?
Cian Collins has an A/E of 1.53, Sean Aherne 1.5, Adrian Murray 1.25 and R Donohoe 1.08.
How many principals usually race held up?
All five principals are described as usually held up and producing their effort late.
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