2:37 Curragh
The QuinnBet Loughbrown Stakes is a Group 3 contest over 2m0f71y at the Curragh on soft ground, featuring an 11-runner field where class and stamina will be thoroughly tested. The KTB Fit Scores highlight Chally Chute as the clear top pick on 66, with a cluster of principals from 53 down to 51 underlining a competitive but not especially deep Group 3. With no obvious front-runner and a muddling, tactical pace shape, the race is expected to suit those who can race handily.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape is described as muddling and tactical with medium confidence, as there is no obvious front-runner. Most of the principals and several others prefer to race prominently or handily, which should see a contested lead or at least a pace that is not truly strong early on. This setup is likely to favour those ridden close to the pace, with the key question being which of the prominent runners can best conserve energy through the tactical phases before delivering in the straight.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Chally Chute KTB Selection66/100
Chally Chute is a smart performer with an official rating of 114 who has won three times at the Curragh from nine runs. He steps up in trip today having last run over 1m7½f though he has won at this distance before. The eight-year-old usually races handily on or close to the lead and is the KTB selection. Trainer Ross O'Sullivan has an 8% strike rate at Curragh from 170 runs while jockey Donagh O'Connor records a 4% strike rate at the track from 250 rides. He has been placed twice from four runs on soft ground without winning.
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2Galileo Dame53/100
Galileo Dame is a useful performer who has shown consistent placed form at this trip, winning once from four attempts. The five-year-old filly has been placed twice from four runs on soft ground and brings decent course experience with two placings from four starts at the Curragh. She usually races handily on or close to the lead. Trainer Joseph Patrick O'Brien has an 11% strike rate at the Curragh from 1404 runs which is below his overall figure. Jockey Seamie Heffernan has an 8% strike rate at the track from 2388 rides.
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3Asakir53/100
Asakir is a smart three-year-old who has shown strong form this season with a win and two placed efforts from five runs. He finished a solid third here over shorter on his only previous visit to the Curragh and now steps up in trip for the first time. The colt usually races handily on or close to the lead and is unproven on soft ground. Half-brother to Ashikita who won once from three runs, with the dam having produced two other runners including one winner. Trainer J P Murtagh operates at a 10% strike rate at this track from 898 runs in line with his record elsewhere while jockey Ben Coen has a 7% strike rate at the Curragh from 667 rides.
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4Snapretend52/100
Snapretend is a useful performer who has shown steady progress and ran well to finish third here over shorter last time. He has two wins from three starts on soft ground and carries an official rating of 101. The four-year-old usually races handily on or close to the lead with high confidence in that run-style. The step up to 2m is a fresh question. Trainer Joseph Patrick O'Brien has an 11% strike rate at Curragh from 1404 runs which sits below his 14% elsewhere while jockey J M Sheridan records a 7% strike rate at the track from 347 rides.
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5Abbotsford51/100
Abbotsford is a useful performer who has won on soft ground and at this trip from just six career starts. The three-year-old colt is a full brother to Listed winner Petricor and arrives in reasonable shape with a solid recent form line. He usually races handily on or close to the lead and has a 1 win from 2 starts on soft with two places. Trainer D K Weld has an 11% strike rate at the Curragh from 3642 runs which sits below their overall figure while jockey Chris Hayes records a 7% strike rate at the track from 1952 rides.
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6Sky Captain50/100
Sky Captain is a useful performer who has twice finished sixth here without placing. He steps up markedly in trip today from 1m3½f, which is an entirely fresh question, while the soft ground remains unknown given his light career total. Half-brother to Listed winner Wealthy Fortune, with the dam having produced six other runners including four winners.
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7Endless Victory49/100
Endless Victory is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick on the back of two placed efforts this year. He steps up in trip for the first time today which poses a fresh question while he remains unproven on soft ground. Trainer W P Mullins has an 11% strike rate at Curragh from 407 runs which sits below his overall figure.
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8Absurde48/100
Absurde is a useful performer who has been placed on two of his four runs at the Curragh. He steps up in trip today having won once over this distance from nine attempts, though his two runs on soft ground have produced no win or place. Trainer W P Mullins has an 11% strike rate at this track from 407 runs which is below their 22% at other courses.
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9Marazion48/100
Marazion is a useful performer who has run four times at the Curragh without winning but has been placed once. He steps up in trip today to 2m for the first time which asks a fresh question and his three runs on soft ground have produced no win or place. Trainer Mrs J Harrington has a 9% strike rate at the track from 1462 runs which is below their 11% at other courses.
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10Chasing Paradise45/100
Chasing Paradise is a useful performer who won on his only previous run at the Curragh. He steps up in trip today having last been seen over a mile and a half, which asks a fresh question. Half-sister to Viking Storm who won six times from 25 runs, with the dam having produced eleven other runners including seven winners.
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11Amelia Earhart44/100
Amelia Earhart is a smart performer who has run creditably in several Group races this season without winning. She has been below form on her last two starts and has no placed effort in two runs at this track or on soft ground. The filly steps up in trip for the first time today which adds an unknown element.
KTB verdict
Chally Chute stands out as the KTB selection. A smart performer with three wins from nine runs at the Curragh and an official rating of 114, he brings the best blend of course form, proven stamina at the trip and a prominent run-style that aligns perfectly with the muddling tactical shape. The selection has also shown he is competitive on soft ground. Main dangers include the progressive three-year-olds Asakir and Abbotsford who both like to race handily, while Galileo Dame and Snapretend bring solid placed form and course experience into the equation.
KTB Selection Chally Chute
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:03am, 1 Nov. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Chally Chute | 9/2 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Galileo Dame | 33/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Asakir | 4/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Snapretend | 12/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Abbotsford | 7/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Sky Captain | 20/1 | LiveScore Bet, 12:03am |
| Endless Victory | 16/1 | Coral, 12:03am |
| Absurde | 10/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Marazion | 12/1 | Bet365, 12:03am |
| Chasing Paradise | 40/1 | BetTom, 12:03am |
| Amelia Earhart | 9/4 | BetTom, 12:03am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:37 Curragh. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Curragh racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Curragh results & records page. How favourites, trainers, jockeys and the draw have fared here over the last five years is on the Curragh racecourse statistics page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has won the most times at the Curragh?
Chally Chute has won three times at this track from nine runs.
How many of the principals are proven winners at this trip?
Chally Chute has won at this distance before, Abbotsford has won at this trip, and Absurde has won once over this distance from nine attempts.
Which runners are unproven on soft ground?
Asakir, Sky Captain, Endless Victory and Amelia Earhart have no runs or no wins or places on soft, while Marazion has three runs on soft with no win or place.
Who has the strongest trainer strike rate at the Curragh among the principals?
Aidan O'Brien has a 19% strike rate at the Curragh from 4500 runs, though his representative Amelia Earhart is in the field rather than the principals.
Which horse is stepping up markedly in trip from 1m3½f?
Sky Captain is stepping up markedly in trip from 1m3½f.
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