4:45 Galway
The Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Hurdle at Galway is a competitive 23-runner 3m handicap on yielding ground. The KTB Fit scores point to a race with a handful of clear principals at the top of the rankings while the remainder of a large field largely sit in the low- to mid-50s or below. Grace Faraday heads the KTB figures on the back of strong course form and a proven record at the trip and on the ground.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners present the pace shape is strong and confidence is high that it will be on the fast side. Clash Gold, Comeonarchie and Ballagh Star are all likely to contest the lead or race prominently while Grace Faraday tends to race handily. This sets up a race that could collapse late and therefore strongly favour those held up towards the rear, with several of the principals and many in the field set to come from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Grace Faraday KTB Selection64/100
Grace Faraday is a useful performer who has won twice at this track from five runs and holds solid course connections. She has two wins from six starts on yielding ground and has already won over today's trip. The yard's 8% strike rate at Galway is in line with their record elsewhere while she steps back up in distance having last run over 2m6½f. Recent form of 56-U12 shows she is in good heart. Usually races handily, on or close to the lead, which could be an asset if the strong pace does not overdo it early. The 3lb claimer James Smith takes the ride for a yard with an 11% strike rate when teaming up.
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2Vision De Maine56/100
Vision De Maine is a useful performer who has won twice over this trip from seven attempts. He arrives off the back of three poor runs and makes his first appearance at Galway today. The yard's 14% strike rate here is in line with their record elsewhere while the jockey has a 9% strike rate at the track from 67 rides. Run-style is held up, usually producing effort late, which looks ideal given the strong pace that is anticipated. No runs on yielding ground leave him unproven on the surface. Recent form reads /3PPP-.
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3Wildhorserider56/100
Wildhorserider is a useful performer who showed little in three starts last season after a promising debut fourth. Steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m3½f and this represents a fresh question. Half-brother to Balliniska Band, a Listed winner (2 wins from 3 runs). The dam has had 6 other runners, 4 of them winners. The yard's 8% strike rate at Galway is in line with their record elsewhere. Run-style is held up, usually producing effort late, which should suit the expected strong pace. Recent form is 4/006- and he has had just one run on yielding ground with no win or place.
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4Moonshine Girl55/100
Moonshine Girl is a useful performer who has won once from four runs at Galway and holds a solid 1-3 record on yielding ground. She steps up to 3m for the first time today having been placed without winning at the trip from six starts. The yard records a 6% strike rate here from 293 runs which is in line with their 5% at other tracks. Usually held up and produces effort late, fitting the race shape that could collapse in the straight. Recent form of 2401S3 shows she remains competitive. Miss J Townend takes the ride with a 10% strike rate at the track.
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5Boola Times53/100
Boola Times is a useful performer who has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placed efforts from his last four starts. He ran poorly on his only previous visit to Galway and steps up markedly in trip today having never gone beyond 2m2½f. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 25 runs at this track which is in line with his overall record. Run-style is held up, usually producing effort late, which aligns with the strong pace expected. Recent form reads P-3513 and he has placed once from three starts on yielding ground without winning.
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6Shotgun Jack52/100
Shotgun Jack is a useful performer who has won once from four starts at Galway. He steps up to 3m for the first time since recording one win from three runs at the trip, though his only run on yielding ground brought no win or place. First-time headgear is now applied and the trainer has only one run here so far, too small a sample to judge. Recent form is 90P09- and he is usually held up.
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7Mr Dibbs52/100
Mr Dibbs is a useful performer on his day but arrives in modest recent form having been pulled up on his last start. He steps up to 3m for the first time in 17 runs while wearing headgear for the first time and remains unproven on yielding ground. The trainer's 7% strike rate at Galway is below his overall figure. Usually held up and recent form is P-1860.
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8Madame Masque51/100
Madame Masque is a useful performer on official ratings but has been well beaten on all four starts to date including a remote finish on return last time. The trip is a fresh question today having last run over shorter. Trainer Henry de Bromhead operates at an 11% strike rate at Galway from 313 runs in line with his overall record while jockey Mike O'Connor has no supplied record at the track. Typically settles in midfield and recent form is /000-0. Half-sister to Dame De Ruban (1 win from 11 runs). The dam has had 3 other runners, 1 of them a winner.
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9Clash Gold50/100
Clash Gold is a useful performer who has shown steady progress in recent starts with placed efforts on his last two outings. He steps up to an untested 3m today which asks a fresh question of his stamina. The yard has an 8% strike rate at Galway from 13 runs. Tends to make the running or race on the pace, which will contribute to the strong pace. Recent form is 005-25 and he has had one run on yielding with no win or place. Half-sister to Tonightsagoodnight (1 win from 1 run). The dam has had 1 other runner, a winner.
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10Coffeys Forge49/100
Coffeys Forge is a useful performer on his day but has been largely out of form this year and was well beaten on his only previous run at Galway. The yard's 7% strike rate at the track is in line with their record elsewhere while the 7lb claimer has had only a handful of rides here. He stays the trip and has placed over it but has never won on yielding ground. Usually held up and recent form is 25PB-7.
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11Three Tribes49/100
Three Tribes is a fair performer who has shown little for this yard since his sole win last year. He has twice run respectably at Galway without placing and his only attempt on yielding ground was unplaced. Stepping up to 3m for the first time today asks a fresh question of a horse whose recent form has been patchy. Usually held up and recent form is 1-PP94.
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12Comeonarchie47/100
Comeonarchie is a useful performer who ran well when second on return at Ballinrobe last month. Has won over today's trip but is 0-5 on yielding ground and makes his first visit to Galway. Trainer is still seeking a first win from five runners at the track. Tends to make the running or race on the pace and recent form is 8157-2.
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13Silin Alainn47/100
Silin Alainn is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and race history yet has shown little in four starts this year. The yard's 7% strike rate at Galway sits below their overall figure while Kevin Sexton has a modest record here too. First-time headgear and a step up to an untried 3m trip add fresh questions. Usually held up and recent form is 880/07.
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14Diamond Dollar46/100
Diamond Dollar is a useful performer who arrives in solid form after two wins earlier this year before falling in his latest start. He makes his first appearance at Galway today and has no experience of yielding ground, while he has failed to win in his only previous run at this trip. The trainer's 9% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere. Usually held up and recent form is 6511F-.
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15Roc My Haarth44/100
Roc My Haarth is a useful performer who showed decent form when placed over this trip earlier in the year. Has been well held in both starts since returning from a break and his sole run here at Galway was modest. Trainer's 3% strike rate at the track is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey's record at Galway is not supplied. Usually races handily, on or close to the lead and recent form is 261-66.
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16Ballagh Star43/100
Ballagh Star is a fair handicapper who has won once from three runs at Galway. He showed improved form when winning last time but has never placed in three runs on yielding ground and steps up in trip today having failed to win in five previous attempts at this distance. The trainer has a 2% strike rate at Galway from 47 runs in line with their record elsewhere. Tends to make the running or race on the pace and recent form is 0P9P41.
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17Elbow Lane41/100
Elbow Lane is a fair sort who ran to a similar level when seventh at this track on his most recent start. He steps up markedly in trip today having raced only over two miles so far, which asks a fresh question of him. The yard’s 4% strike rate at Galway is in line with their record elsewhere. Usually held up and recent form is 37097-. Full brother to Largy Panic (1 win from 6 runs). The dam has had 1 other runner, a winner.
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18Lake Okeechobee40/100
Lake Okeechobee is a fair performer who has shown some consistency of late with placed efforts on his last two starts. He steps up markedly in trip today to 3m for the first time which asks a fresh question, while he has failed to place in two runs on yielding ground. The trainer has a 1% strike rate at Galway from 95 runs, in line with their record elsewhere. Typically settles in midfield and recent form is 0-4763.
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19Laligurash40/100
Laligurash is a fair performer who has shown little consistency across six runs and was well held when last seen. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from seven runs at Galway while the 3lb claimer has no recorded rides at the track. Stepping up to an untried 3m poses a fresh question and the going remains unknown with such a light career. Typically settles in midfield and recent form is 078028. Half-brother to Sirobbie (7 wins from 41 runs). The dam has had 5 other runners, 3 of them winners.
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20Rockon Henry38/100
Rockon Henry is a modest 11-year-old who has shown very little in recent starts and finished well down the field on both previous visits to Galway. He steps up markedly in trip today with first-time headgear, questions remain about his effectiveness at 3m and on yielding ground where he is unproven. The trainer is 0 from 7 at this track. Typically settles in midfield and recent form is 6/980-.
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21Toor Moon36/100
Toor Moon is a modest performer who has been out of form for some time and arrives with a string of poor efforts. Has placed over this trip and on yielding ground but only a single run at Galway yielded a distant third. Trainer remains without a winner from 15 runs at the track. Usually races handily, on or close to the lead and recent form is 7-00U0.
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22Imperial Tune35/100
Imperial Tune is a fair 10-year-old who has shown some ability at this trip without winning. He is unproven on yielding ground and makes his first appearance at Galway today. The trainer has only one run at the course which is too small a sample to judge. Usually held up and recent form is /98-0F.
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23Imbolc34/100
Imbolc is a modest performer who has struggled to make an impact of late with five runs without a win or place this year. He has shown little at this track or on yielding ground and remains winless in four attempts at this trip. The trainer's 6% strike rate at Galway is in line with his record elsewhere. Usually held up and recent form is 6PF00-.
KTB verdict
Grace Faraday stands out at the head of the KTB Fit scores and is taken as the selection. She boasts two wins from five runs at Galway, a strong record on yielding ground and has already won over the trip, with prominent tactics that should keep her involved in a race set to be strongly run. The selection has the best course connections among the principals and her recent form suggests she is in form. Main dangers are those who can come from off the pace in a race that could collapse late, notably Vision De Maine, Wildhorserider and Moonshine Girl, all of whom are rated useful by KTB and possess late-run styles that fit the shape.
KTB Selection Grace Faraday
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 4:45 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 the strongest course record at Galway?
Grace Faraday has won here twice from five runs.
How does the strong pace shape affect the principals?
It should favour hold-up horses such as Vision De Maine, Wildhorserider, Moonshine Girl and Boola Times who usually produce their effort late.
Which runners are making their first start at Galway?
Vision De Maine, Wildhorserider, Mr Dibbs, Madame Masque, Clash Gold, Diamond Dollar, Imperial Tune and several others have no course form on record.
Who is stepping up markedly in trip for the first time?
Wildhorserider, Boola Times, Three Tribes, Silin Alainn, Laligurash, Rockon Henry and Elbow Lane are all stepping up markedly in trip.
Which horses are wearing first-time headgear?
Shotgun Jack, Mr Dibbs, Silin Alainn and Rockon Henry are all wearing first-time headgear.
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