3:20 Galway
The W.b. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle at Galway brings together a competitive field of 14 for this 2m5f200y contest on ground yet to be confirmed. Several high-class performers line up, headed by Stumptown who tops the KTB Fit ratings on 64/100, with the next four principals all rated between 59 and 55. The official ratings range from 135 down to 110 and, with every runner unproven on the current surface, the KTB numbers highlight a race full of unknowns around trip, track and conditions.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence, as two or more habitual front-runners are present and likely to go hard early. Stumptown and Prophet's Corner both tend to make the running or race prominently, while One Big Boum shares that front-running style and several others, including Open Secret, Balko d'Ange, Teed Up, Stay Gold and West Of Bally, like to race handily. This shape could see the pace collapse late on, which would play into the hands of hold-up performers such as Sa Majeste, Sportinthepark, Shoot First and Mystic Malina, posing the key question of whether any prominent racer can withstand the late challengers.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Stumptown KTB Selection64/100
Stumptown is a high-class performer who has placed on both previous visits to Galway and returns off an official rating of 127. He drops back from 3m5½f to a trip he has won at before, though he remains unproven on the current ground. The trainer's 7% strike rate at the track from 394 runs is below his overall figure while the jockey's 11% from 171 rides is in line with his record elsewhere. As a front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace, he is sure to be to the fore in a race where the pace is likely to be strong. Recent form figures of 1P/14- show ability mixed with the occasional poor run, yet he remains the KTB Selection on a Fit rating of 64/100.
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2Hgranca De Thaix59/100
Hgranca De Thaix is a high-class performer who has won once from four runs at Galway. He arrives in solid form after two placed efforts this season yet remains unproven on the ground and has failed to win in four starts at this trip. The trainer and jockey both operate at a 12% strike rate here, with the latter above his general mark. Racing prominently and usually handily on or close to the lead, he should be involved in the early action in what is set to be a strongly-run race. His official rating of 125 and recent form figures of 02267- underline consistent ability at this level.
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3Sa Majeste57/100
Sa Majeste is a high-class performer with a solid official rating of 130 and strong backing from race history and course connections. He showed ability when finishing second on his only previous run at Galway but has been out of form on his last few starts and is now dropping back sharply in trip from 3m7½f. The going remains unproven while the 7 lb claimer has only one ride at the track so far. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is the type to benefit if the strong pace collapses as expected. Recent form figures of 0P3PP- reflect a patchy record of late.
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4Sportinthepark56/100
Sportinthepark is a high-class performer who has won two of his three starts at this track. He steps up in trip today having already won at this distance, though he remains unproven on the ground. The trainer and jockey both record a 12% strike rate here in line with their figures elsewhere. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is well placed to capitalise if the race is run at a strong gallop that could see leaders tire. His official rating of 125 and recent form figures of 4/10P- suggest he retains plenty of ability on his day.
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5Teed Up55/100
Teed Up is a smart performer with a solid record here, winning six of 15 starts at Galway. Recent form has been modest but the step up in trip is an open question rather than a negative. Trainer and jockey both operate at their usual level at this track. Racing prominently and usually handily on or close to the lead, he should be in a good position early in a race expected to be strongly contested up front. His official rating of 119 and recent form figures of 0000-3 show that a return to form would not surprise.
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6Lough Nigara54/100
Lough Nigara is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a string of placed efforts and two wins from his last four completed starts. He has won at today's trip and holds an official rating of 110, though he has never run at Galway before and remains unproven on this ground. The trainer and jockey both record strike rates at the track that sit in line with their figures elsewhere. Typically settling in midfield, he could be well suited if the strong pace takes its toll late.
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7Open Secret54/100
Open Secret is a high-class performer with a solid official rating of 127 and a career record that includes useful placed form. He has been tried over this track once before when finishing sixth, while the yard's 11% strike rate at Galway sits below their overall figure and the jockey operates at a 15% strike rate here that matches his general record. The step up to 2m5f today is an unknown and he remains unproven on this ground. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he will be prominent in a strongly-run affair.
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8Balko d'Ange54/100
Balko d'Ange is a high-class performer on the balance of his ratings and race history. He steps up markedly in trip today with no experience of this ground, while the jockey is still seeking a first Galway winner from ten rides. The yard's 12% strike rate here from 67 runs sits in line with their record elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead, he will be in the thick of it early.
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9One Big Boum51/100
One Big Boum is a high-class performer on his day but arrives here off a poor run at this track last time and with no win in 19 starts over the last year. Trainer records a 12% strike rate at Galway from 67 runs, in line with his 9% elsewhere, while jockey Donagh Meyler posts a 7% strike rate here from 132 rides, also in line with his 8% at other tracks. Unproven on the ground and now dropped in trip to one he has never tried, so plenty of unknowns. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he will be to the fore.
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10West Of Bally51/100
West Of Bally is a smart performer who showed useful form when third on his penultimate start. He has already run once at Galway, finishing fifth, and drops back in trip today to a distance he has never tried. Half-brother to Rocky's Silver (5 wins from 23 runs). The dam has had 2 other runners, 1 of them a winner. Trainer and jockey both record 6% and 5% strike rates at the track respectively, figures in line with their records elsewhere. Usually racing handily on or close to the lead.
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11Stay Gold47/100
Stay Gold is a smart performer who arrives off the back of two wins in weaker company and holds an official rating of 115. Drops back in trip to 2m5f today having last run over 3m, which asks a fresh question, while the trainer and jockey both record 4% strike rates at Galway that sit in line with their figures at other tracks. Remains unproven on the ground. Usually races handily on or close to the lead with high confidence.
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12Shoot First46/100
Shoot First is a high-class performer who has shown his best at this track, finishing second here on his penultimate start. Steps up in trip today having been placed without winning in two previous tries at this distance, while the going remains an unknown. Trainer has an 8% strike rate at Galway from 213 runs in line with his record elsewhere, but the jockey is operating at just 2% here from 48 rides. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence.
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13Prophet's Corner44/100
Prophet's Corner is a high-class performer on his best days with a solid official rating of 120 and recent form that includes a win before a fall. He drops back in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance, while the ground is unproven for him. The trainer has only one run at Galway so the sample is too small to judge, though the jockey has a 7% strike rate here from 15 rides. Tending to make the running or race on the pace.
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14Mystic Malina42/100
Mystic Malina is a smart performer who showed useful form when winning twice last season and finished a solid second on return at Ballinrobe. Drops back in trip today having last run over three miles, which asks a fresh question. The dam has had 1 other runner, not a winner. Trainer is 0 from 11 at Galway while the jockey’s 3% strike rate here sits below his overall figure. Usually held up and producing effort late with high confidence.
KTB verdict
Stumptown is the KTB Selection. A high-class performer who has placed on both previous visits to Galway, he returns off an official rating of 127 and drops back to a trip he has won at before. As a front-runner in a race with a strong pace likely, he is ideally positioned to dictate matters, though the unproven ground remains the main concern. His chief dangers are likely to be Hgranca De Thaix, who has won at the track and arrives in solid form, and the hold-up types Sa Majeste and Sportinthepark, both of whom have strong course form and could be suited by a late collapse. Teed Up cannot be dismissed either given his excellent record at Galway.
KTB Selection Stumptown
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 2:06am, 26 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Stumptown | 7/1 | Dragon Bet, 12:25am |
| Hgranca De Thaix | 11/2 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Sa Majeste | 25/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Sportinthepark | 15/2 | Bet365, 12:25am |
| Teed Up | 3/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Lough Nigara | 11/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Open Secret | 17/2 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Balko d'Ange | 11/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| One Big Boum | 12/1 | Bet365, 12:25am |
| West Of Bally | 22/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Stay Gold | 9/1 | LiveScore Bet, 2:06am |
| Shoot First | 14/1 | Betfred, 12:45am |
| Prophet's Corner | 10/1 | Bet Victor, 12:25am |
| Mystic Malina | 5/1 | Bet365, 12:25am |
This is the narrative read of the 3:20 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 horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Stumptown, One Big Boum and Prophet's Corner all tend to make the running or race on the pace, while Open Secret, Balko d'Ange, Teed Up, Stay Gold, Hgranca De Thaix and West Of Bally usually race handily on or close to the lead.
Who could benefit most if the pace collapses late?
Hold-up horses Sa Majeste, Sportinthepark, Shoot First and Mystic Malina are all suited by coming from off the pace and could be favoured if the strong early gallop takes its toll.
Which runner has the strongest record at Galway?
Teed Up has won six of 15 starts at Galway, while Sportinthepark has won two of three, Hgranca De Thaix has won once from four, and Stumptown has placed on both visits.
How does the trip suit the leading contenders?
Stumptown drops back from 3m5½f to a trip he has won at, Sportinthepark steps up in trip having won at the distance, Sa Majeste drops sharply from 3m7½f, and Teed Up steps up in trip with it rated an open question.
Are any runners proven on the expected ground?
No runner has experience of the current ground; every horse remains unproven on it according to the KTB reads.
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