2:20 Galway
The Kenny Galway Peugeot Handicap Hurdle at 2:20 over 3m60y on good ground at Galway brings together a field of 23, with the KTB numbers highlighting a competitive mix of smart performers stepping up in trip or trying new headgear. The race features several course winners and placed horses, though many arrive with questions to answer regarding distance, consistency or the track itself. Overall the KTB Fit Scores point to a race where proven ability at the venue and yard form at Galway will be key factors.
How the race shapes up
With a genuinely-run pace shape of high confidence, the race is expected to be contested up front by a front-runner pressed by several handy types, setting up a fair test. Rocky's Howya is likely to take them along from the outset given his high-confidence front-running style, while prominent runners such as Tullyveery Lad and Caher Roes Den could apply pressure. Held-up performers like Moonovercloon, Mr Master Mac and Reiki Revolution will look to come from off the pace, and the key question is which horses can handle the strong gallop and stay the extended 3m trip best.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Rocky's Howya KTB Selection69/100Smart performer who has won three times in the last year and has already scored at this trip.
- 2Moonovercloon67/100Smart performer who has run well at this track on a couple of occasions without winning.
- 3Sir Allen63/100High-class performer with strong recent form figures who has solid placed efforts on his last two starts.
- 4Mr Master Mac63/100Smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track with a win on good ground from just two runs here.
- 5Reiki Revolution60/100Smart performer who has won on his only previous start at Galway.
- 6High Court Cave59/100Smart performer who has shown his best round here, finishing second on one of two visits to Galway.
- 7Burning Ability57/100Smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track with a second here last time.
- 8Fou De Toi56/100Smart performer who showed useful form when runner-up over 2m4f at this track last time.
- 9Tullyveery Lad54/100Smart performer who has shown enough at this trip to stay competitive.
- 10Fair Damsel54/100Useful performer who has run twice at Galway without placing.
- 11Pinot Rouge54/100Smart performer who arrives in decent form after a solid second last time.
- 12Elusive Ogie53/100Smart performer who has been out of form this season with a string of modest efforts.
- 13Forceonmyown51/100Smart performer who has shown consistent form without winning lately.
- 14Warriors Wood51/100Smart performer who has shown his best away from this track, finishing no better than eighth in two runs here.
- 15Mento51/100Smart performer who showed useful form when winning at this track in May before a respectable sixth in a stronger race here last month.
- 16Stormbreaker50/100Smart performer who has shown little for his new yard since joining from Ireland.
- 17Caher Roes Den50/100Useful performer who has shown steady placed form at this trip in the past without managing to get his head in front.
- 18Justatan50/100Justatan is a useful performer with solid recent form including a third at this track on his latest start.
- 19Adaliz49/100Adaliz is a useful performer who has shown plenty of ability on good ground with a win and a place from three starts.
- 20Pat Coyne46/100Pat Coyne is a useful 12-year-old with a solid career record but has looked on the decline recently, finishing a modest fourth last time after three poor runs.
- 21Beggars Rock43/100Useful performer who has shown bits of form at this trip but has never won over it in five attempts.
- 22Wild Mandate43/100Useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent win and a solid placed effort.
- 23Sallap42/100Sallap is a useful performer in good form having won two of his last three starts.
The contenders
Rocky's Howya KTB Fit 69/100
Rocky's Howya is a smart performer who has won three times in the last year and has already scored at this trip. He has only modest form figures here at Galway on his one previous run and he has been in and out of form lately. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard has a solid record at the track. The 10-year-old tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence and will set the fractions in a genuinely-run contest. Declan Queally's 14% strike rate at Galway from 78 runs and the jockey's 10% strike rate at the venue from 58 rides add to the positives, though he is only 1 from 7 on good ground.
Moonovercloon KTB Fit 67/100
Moonovercloon is a smart performer who has run well at this track on a couple of occasions without winning. He has been out of form on his last three starts and now steps up in trip for the first time in a while while also trying headgear. The yard's solid record here offers some encouragement. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will look to come from off the strong pace. The 9-year-old is 2 from 12 on good ground with five places and has placed once from six runs at Galway, though he is yet to win at the track.
Sir Allen KTB Fit 63/100
Sir Allen is a high-class performer with strong recent form figures who has solid placed efforts on his last two starts. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him while his sole course run produced a modest fifth. The trainer operates at an 8% strike rate here from a big sample and the horse has only one win from nine runs on good ground. Settling typically in midfield, he will need to stay the 3m in a race that is set to be genuinely run. The 7-year-old's recent form reads 730/44.
Mr Master Mac KTB Fit 63/100
Mr Master Mac is a smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track with a win on good ground from just two runs here. The step up from 2m2f to 3m is an unknown at this stage but the pedigree and race profile suggest he should cope. The trainer records a solid 11% strike rate from 61 runs at Galway. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he will be ridden for a late run off what is likely to be a strong pace. The 5-year-old is 1 from 2 on good ground with another place and his recent form is 313-17.
Reiki Revolution KTB Fit 60/100
Reiki Revolution is a smart performer who has won on his only previous start at Galway. He has been placed both starts at this trip though his recent form is patchy with two unseats and a pull-up in the last four runs. First-time headgear is now applied while stepping back up in distance on ground he handles. Usually held up and producing his effort late with high confidence, he will be towards the rear in a genuinely-run race. The 6-year-old is 1 from 5 on good ground with three places and his course record stands at 1 from 1.
The rest of the field
High Court CaveKTB Fit 59/100
High Court Cave is a smart performer who has shown his best round here, finishing second on one of two visits to Galway. He steps up markedly in trip today having last run over 2m1f, which asks a fresh question of him, while first-time headgear is also a new factor. The yard's modest 3% strike rate at the track is another negative.
Burning AbilityKTB Fit 57/100
Burning Ability is a smart performer who has already shown his liking for this track with a second here last time. He steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on his only attempt, while he is 1 from 1 on good ground. The yard's modest 6% strike-rate at Galway is worth noting.
Fou De ToiKTB Fit 56/100
Fou De Toi is a smart performer who showed useful form when runner-up over 2m4f at this track last time. He steps up in trip today having failed to land the odds in two previous tries at this distance. Mullins is operating at a 19% strike rate from 923 runs here while Townend has a solid record at the venue.
Tullyveery LadKTB Fit 54/100
Tullyveery Lad is a smart performer who has shown enough at this trip to stay competitive. He has been placed on good ground and has course experience here though he finished well beaten on his only previous visit. First-time headgear is now tried and the yard's modest strike rate at Galway is noted.
Fair DamselKTB Fit 54/100
Fair Damsel is a useful performer who has run twice at Galway without placing. She has shown little on good ground in five attempts and was well held when last seen over this trip. The trainer holds a solid record here but the mare arrives with questions to answer.
Pinot RougeKTB Fit 54/100
Pinot Rouge is a smart performer who arrives in decent form after a solid second last time. She steps up in trip today having already won over this distance, though the first-time headgear is an unknown and the yard has yet to strike at Galway from six runs. Placed twice from five starts on good ground so the surface should be fine.
Elusive OgieKTB Fit 53/100
Elusive Ogie is a smart performer who has been out of form this season with a string of modest efforts. He steps up markedly in trip today for a yard with a modest 6% strike rate at Galway from 36 runs. He goes well on good ground but this is new territory distance-wise.
ForceonmyownKTB Fit 51/100
Forceonmyown is a smart performer who has shown consistent form without winning lately. First run at Galway and first time in headgear add unknowns while the step up in trip is another fresh question. The trainer has a solid 11% strike rate here from a big sample.
Warriors WoodKTB Fit 51/100
Warriors Wood is a smart performer who has shown his best away from this track, finishing no better than eighth in two runs here. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him while the yard's poor record at Galway adds a negative. He goes well on good ground but that feels like the limit of the positives.
MentoKTB Fit 51/100
Mento is a smart performer who showed useful form when winning at this track in May before a respectable sixth in a stronger race here last month. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a 7% strike rate from 126 runs at Galway.
StormbreakerKTB Fit 50/100
Stormbreaker is a smart performer who has shown little for his new yard since joining from Ireland. He was well beaten on his only previous run at Galway and steps up markedly in trip today for a trainer with a modest 5% strike rate here from a large sample. The placed efforts on good ground offer some encouragement but overall recent form is weak.
Caher Roes DenKTB Fit 50/100
Caher Roes Den is a useful performer who has shown steady placed form at this trip in the past without managing to get his head in front. He steps back up in distance today having last run over shorter and his overall profile suggests he should handle the extra yardage. The trainer Willie Mullins has a solid 19% strike rate from 923 runs at Galway.
JustatanKTB Fit 50/100
Justatan is a useful performer with solid recent form including a third at this track on his latest start. He drops back in trip today to a distance he has not tried before while sporting first-time headgear. The Emmet Mullins yard has a 15% strike rate from 141 runs at Galway and Donagh Meyler is aboard.
AdalizKTB Fit 49/100
Adaliz is a useful performer who has shown plenty of ability on good ground with a win and a place from three starts. He steps up markedly in trip today having been well held on his last two starts and now tries headgear for the first time. The yard has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 304 runs.
Pat CoyneKTB Fit 46/100
Pat Coyne is a useful 12-year-old with a solid career record but has looked on the decline recently, finishing a modest fourth last time after three poor runs. He has course experience here but showed little when 12th on his only visit, and he steps up markedly in trip today having never been placed beyond 2m5f. The trainer holds a 12% strike rate at Galway from 69 runs while the horse has won three times on good ground from 17 attempts.
Beggars RockKTB Fit 43/100
Beggars Rock is a useful performer who has shown bits of form at this trip but has never won over it in five attempts. He has been tried twice at Galway without placing and the yard is 0-20 at the track. First-time headgear is now reached for after a modest return run.
Wild MandateKTB Fit 43/100
Wild Mandate is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a recent win and a solid placed effort. First time headgear is now applied while he drops back in trip to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer's modest 2% strike rate from 53 runs at Galway is a clear negative.
SallapKTB Fit 42/100
Sallap is a useful performer in good form having won two of his last three starts. He steps up in trip today with only one previous try at this distance and makes his first appearance at Galway where the yard has a 0% strike rate from 22 runs. He has shown he handles good ground with two wins from eight starts on it.
KTB verdict
Rocky's Howya is the KTB Selection. He is a smart performer who has won three times in the last year including at this trip, and first-time headgear is now applied while the yard holds a solid record at Galway. His high-confidence front-running style should see him set a strong pace in a genuinely-run race that plays to his strengths. The main dangers are Moonovercloon, who has run well at the track before and benefits from the yard's record here despite recent poor form, and Mr Master Mac, who has already shown his liking for Galway with a win on good ground. Sir Allen and Reiki Revolution are others who can feature if the trip and headgear work in their favour.
KTB Selection Rocky's Howya
This is the narrative read of the 2:20 Galway. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Galway racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse is making its first appearance in headgear?
Rocky's Howya, Moonovercloon, High Court Cave, Tullyveery Lad, Pinot Rouge, Forceonmyown, Justatan, Adaliz, Beggars Rock and Wild Mandate are all trying first-time headgear.
How many wins has Reiki Revolution recorded at Galway?
Reiki Revolution has won on his only previous start at Galway.
What is the trainer's strike rate at Galway for the yard of Fou De Toi?
W P Mullins is operating at a 19% strike rate from 923 runs at Galway.
Which principals have course wins at Galway?
Reiki Revolution has won on his only previous start at Galway while Mr Master Mac has a win on good ground from two runs here.
Who is likely to set the pace in this race?
Rocky's Howya tends to make the running or race on the pace with high confidence and Mento also has front-running tendencies, though with limited evidence.
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