3:38 Galway
The Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle at Galway over 2m0f90y on yielding ground brings together a large field of 23, mixing experienced campaigners with a significant number of lightly-raced or debutant types. The KTB Fit Scores are tightly bunched at the top, with This Songisforyou heading the numbers on 55 despite patchy recent form, while several others sit in the low-to-mid 40s, underlining the modest overall standard of the maiden. With a genuinely-run pace shape anticipated, the race looks a fair test that will ask questions of stamina and positioning.
How the race shapes up
A front-runner is expected to set the pace, pressed by several prominent and handy types in what is rated a genuinely-run, fair test with high confidence. This Songisforyou will be held up off that speed, as will a number of others, while several in the field look sure to race prominently or in mid-division. The key question is whether the strong early gallop will suit those coming from off the pace or play into the hands of those closer to the speed in a race where positioning could prove decisive.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1This Songisforyou KTB Selection55/100
This Songisforyou is a smart performer who has won over this trip and has already scored at Galway. Recent form is patchy and he was well held on his latest start, though the step back up in distance looks a positive on paper. Trainer Emmet Mullins strikes at 14% here from 147 runs in line with his overall record, while jockey Donagh Meyler has a 7% strike rate at the track from 133 rides. The horse is 2 from 6 on yielding ground without a win yet remains competitive on that surface. Usually held up and producing its effort late, he will look to come from off the strong pace.
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2Issy's Lad53/100
Issy's Lad has only one career run and that came at today's trip without success. The yard of W J Austin operates at a 7% strike rate at Galway from 30 runs which is in line with their record elsewhere, while claiming jockey Eoin Staples has a 17% strike rate at the track from 18 rides. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. The dam has had one other runner, not a winner, and with data confidence low this lightly-raced profile must be treated with caution. Usually held up and producing its effort late on limited evidence, he will need to improve markedly.
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3Young Mans Game50/100
Young Mans Game has been well beaten in both starts so far and arrives with an official rating of blank after just two career runs. The yard of Matthew A Daly has no recorded runners at Galway while the 5 lb claimer Alan O'Sullivan has a 10% strike rate at the track from 30 rides. There are no runs on yielding ground so the going suitability remains unknown from such a small sample, and he has no course form on record. The dam has had two other runners, none of them a winner, and he drops back in trip today. Typically settling in midfield, he faces a stiff task on what he has shown to date.
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4Touch The Clouds48/100
Touch The Clouds is lightly raced with just three runs and a recent form line of 33-0 so the picture is far from clear. He steps up in trip to 2m having been placed at the distance without winning and is a half-brother to Shotgun Jack who won twice from 16 runs, with the dam having produced three other runners of whom two were winners. Trainer Ross O'Sullivan has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 93 runs in line with his overall record, though the trainer and jockey combination is 0 from 5. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he could be involved if improving.
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5Louis Winthorpe47/100
Louis Winthorpe is a debutant whose assessment rests on pedigree and connections. He is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Frankie John and out of a dam who has produced three winners from four other runners, with the sire Crystal Ocean boasting a 13% overall win rate. Trainer Barry Connell has a 12% strike rate at Galway from 41 runs in line with his record elsewhere, while the jockey's course record is unavailable. There is no course win on record. With no racecourse form the picture is entirely speculative, but the family line is encouraging.
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6Shannonwatersflow47/100
Shannonwatersflow is a newcomer with no racecourse experience. The pedigree and sales background are the main pointers here but the overall data confidence remains low. Trainer John Queally has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 71 runs which matches his record elsewhere, and there is no course win on record. With no going data available the assessment is neutral on that front.
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7Boycetown47/100
Boycetown has shown steady progress in four runs and was a solid third on return at this trip. He is proven on yielding ground with a win from two starts and has been placed both times he has tried today's distance. The yard of Gavin Cromwell has a 7% strike rate at Galway from 388 runs which sits below their 10% at other tracks, while jockey Keith Donoghue is 9% from 165 rides here. The family has produced a Listed winner in half-sister Belle Metal. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he enters calculations.
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8Thinkitdontjinxit47/100
Thinkitdontjinxit showed useful placed form over this trip on both starts last year before a lacklustre return over longer at Down Royal. He drops back in distance now which looks a fair move given that record. The yard of Gordon Elliott has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 707 runs which is below their overall figure, though jockey Jack Kennedy is 15% from 182 rides here. He has one run on yielding ground without a win or place. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, the trip looks suitable.
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9Fergy Five47/100
Fergy Five showed modest form when sixth on debut over 2m1f. The yard of Paul John Gilligan has a 6% strike rate at Galway from 293 runs in line with their record elsewhere. He is a half-brother to Sequestered who won three times from 21 runs, with the dam having produced one other winner. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. Usually racing handily on limited evidence, only one run makes the picture low-confidence.
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10Ludus Magnus45/100
Ludus Magnus has shown mixed form in five runs so far with a recent fourth at this trip followed by an unseated. He has failed to win in two starts at today's distance and the dam has produced just one other non-winning runner. Trainer Philip Fenton operates at a 12% strike rate here from 67 runs in line with his record elsewhere while jockey Niall Moore has a 0% strike rate at the track from 11 rides. He has two runs on yielding ground without a win or place. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he is capable of a bold show.
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11Darby Hill44/100
Darby Hill has shown little in two starts this year and was well beaten on his only attempt at this trip. The half-sister to St Cuthbert's Cave who won three times from 18 runs supplies some pedigree interest but the yard of Paul Nolan has a 7% strike rate at Galway from 212 runs in line with their overall record. He has one run on yielding ground without a win or place, and there is no course form on record. Usually held up and producing its effort late, this looks a tough starting point with low data confidence.
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12Paidi's Pet43/100
Paidi's Pet has shown little in two starts to date, finishing down the field both times at this trip. The yard of Eoin Christopher McCarthy has a 5% strike rate at Galway from 41 runs which sits in line with their overall record, while claiming jockey Thomas O'Connor is 0% from 4 rides here. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, the small sample means this assessment should be read with caution.
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13Cascando42/100
Cascando has shown little so far with just one run in the last year and a pulled-up effort on his only previous start at this trip. He is a half-brother to Midleton Rare who won four times from 29 runs, with the dam having produced two other winners from two runners. Trainer Robert Tyner has a 5% strike rate at Galway from 59 runs while jockey Phillip Enright is 3% from 261 rides here. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. Typically settling in midfield on limited evidence, the small sample makes any firm judgement risky.
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14Menez Are41/100
Menez Are is a lightly raced 4-year-old with only one completed start and recent form that reads U5P-0. Trainer Paul John Gilligan has a 6% strike rate at Galway from 293 runs in line with their 5% at other courses, while claiming jockey Mr O T Gilligan is 0% from 10 rides here. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. Usually held up and producing its effort late on limited evidence, he is being asked a fresh question by the drop back to 2m.
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15A Hug Or Two41/100
A Hug Or Two is a newcomer whose pedigree offers some encouragement as a half-brother to Whatsafellatodo who won three times from 17 runs and out of a dam who has produced three winners from seven runners. Trainer Richard James Daniels has a 0% strike rate from 10 runs at Galway while jockey Danny Mullins records an 8% strike rate here from 319 rides. There is no course win on record. With no racecourse form and low data confidence the picture remains tentative.
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16Kidam Roque41/100
Kidam Roque has shown very little in ten runs to date with a recent sequence of /9-PU0 and no win or place from five starts at this trip. He finished 13th on his only visit to Galway and has been beaten on both runs on yielding ground. The trainer's 3% strike rate at the track from 185 runs is in line with his record elsewhere, while jockey Anna McGuinness is 0% from 5 rides here. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he brings limited appeal.
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17Blues Street41/100
Blues Street has shown very little in two starts so far and finished 16th on his only run here at Galway. The yard of Gavin Cromwell records a 7% strike rate at the track from 388 runs which is below their 10% elsewhere while jockey Kieren Buckley is operating at 3% from 29 rides here in line with his 8% at other courses. He has one run on yielding ground without a win or place. The dam has produced just one other non-winner. Typically settling in midfield, he remains low-confidence.
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18Midfield Magic41/100
Midfield Magic has shown little in two starts so far and arrives with a modest recent form line of 4-9. He is placed once at this trip but remains lightly raced with too few runs to judge his effectiveness on yielding ground. The trainer of Gavin Cromwell operates at a 7% strike rate here from 388 runs which is below his overall figure while the jockey Ben Harvey is 1-33 at the track. The family has produced a winner in half-brother On The Steel. Typically settling in midfield, too few runs limit the assessment.
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19Bog Cross40/100
Bog Cross has shown some ability with a second and a win in points but his recent hurdles form is modest and he was well held in both completed starts this year. He has only one run at this trip without success and the yard of Miss M Harding has a 0% strike rate at Galway from a small sample of two runs. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. Usually racing handily on limited evidence, data confidence is low so read with caution.
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20Passive Idaho39/100
Passive Idaho showed little on his sole start when finishing 15th here over this trip. The yard of Norman Lee has a 3% strike rate at Galway from 94 runs in line with their record elsewhere, while claiming jockey Mr E M Nugent is 0% from 4 rides here. He has one run on yielding ground without a win or place. The dam has had one other runner that failed to win. Usually held up and producing its effort late on limited evidence, only one prior run overall makes the form hard to weigh up.
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21Anunnaki39/100
Anunnaki is a debutant with a limited pedigree to recommend him. He is a half-brother to modest multiple winner Rooster Cogburn and the dam has produced one winner from her other three runners. Trainer P J Rothwell has a 4% strike rate at Galway from 239 runs which is in line with his overall record while jockey Mr R Sugrue has no provided record at the track. There is no course win on record. With no racecourse form to go on and only low-confidence data available the picture is tentative.
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22King Idaho39/100
King Idaho has a single run behind him, finishing sixth on debut, and now returns after a break with very little to go on. The yard of C Byrnes has a 9% strike rate at Galway from 211 runs which sits in line with their record elsewhere, while jockey Philip Byrnes is 2% from 45 rides here. There are no runs on yielding ground so he remains unproven on the going, and he has no course form on record. The dam has had one other runner that failed to win. Usually held up and producing its effort late on limited evidence, the picture is low-confidence.
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23No Loose Ends38/100
No Loose Ends is a half-brother to Listed winner Bigbadandbeautiful and out of a dam who has already produced four winners from seven runners. He has no racecourse form to go on and only low-confidence data available. Trainer P J Rothwell's 4% strike rate at Galway from 239 runs sits in line with his overall record while jockey Dylan Robinson has a 0% strike rate at the track from 23 rides. There is no course win on record. With the pedigree offering encouragement but no previous runs the assessment is entirely speculative.
KTB verdict
This Songisforyou is the KTB Selection. A smart performer who has won over this trip and has already scored at Galway, he brings the strongest form and course experience to the race despite recent form that has been patchy. The step back up in distance is viewed as a positive on paper, and the Emmet Mullins yard continues to strike at 14% at the track. He shapes as the one to beat in a race where the genuinely-run pace should suit his hold-up style. The main dangers are likely to come from Boycetown, who showed steady progress and was a solid third on return with strong yielding-ground form, and Thinkitdontjinxit, who drops back to a more suitable trip having shown useful placed form over the distance last year.
KTB Selection This Songisforyou
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). 23 runners were not priced by any bookmaker before the off (a dash). Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
This is the narrative read of the 3:38 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. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Galway racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has already won over the course and distance?
This Songisforyou has won here from six runs at the track and is proven over this trip.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
A front-runner is likely to be pressed by several handy types in a genuinely-run, fair test, making positioning and the ability to handle a strong gallop important.
What is the strongest pedigree pointer among the debutants?
Louis Winthorpe is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Frankie John out of a dam who has produced three winners from four other runners.
Which runners are proven on yielding ground?
This Songisforyou is placed twice from six runs on yielding without a win, Boycetown has a win from two starts and has been placed both times at the trip, while several others are unproven or have no win or place on the surface.
Which trainer has the strongest strike rate at Galway in this field?
Gordon Elliott has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 707 runs, with Emmet Mullins at 14% from 147 runs also notable among the principals.
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