2:45 Galway
The Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle at Galway over 2m90y brings together a large field of 21, many of them lightly raced or making their hurdling debuts, on ground that remains an unknown for the majority. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top, with Boycetown heading the numbers on 62, followed by Thinkitdontjinxit on 56 and Touch The Clouds on 54; several others sit in the low-to-mid 40s, underlining the open nature of the contest and the scope for improvement among those with the least exposure.
How the race shapes up
With no obvious front-runner declared the pace shape is expected to be muddling and tactical, favouring those who can race close to the pace. Several principals, including Boycetown, Thinkitdontjinxit, Touch The Clouds and Ludus Magnus, are noted as prominent runners who usually race handily, which should serve them well in a race that lacks a clear leader. This Songisforyou is the main held-up threat, likely to be produced late, and the key question will be which of the prominent group can secure the best position without using up too much energy in the early stages.
The KTB Fit ranking
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1Boycetown KTB Selection62/100
Boycetown arrives with fair form from four starts, having finished second and third in his last two completed efforts over this trip. The half-brother to Listed winner Belle Metal is lightly raced and remains open to further improvement, though the small sample leaves the ground an unknown. Trainer Gavin Cromwell operates at a 7% strike rate at Galway from 394 runs, below his overall mark, while Keith Donoghue posts an 11% record at the track from 171 rides that sits in line with his wider figure. Usually prominent, he races handily on or close to the lead with high confidence in that run-style. The KTB selection has the best Fit score in the field and looks sure to go well.
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2Thinkitdontjinxit56/100
Thinkitdontjinxit is lightly raced with just three runs behind him and therefore carries a low data confidence rating, so any conclusions must remain tentative. He has been placed on both starts at today's trip though is yet to win, and now drops back from 2m3f. Gordon Elliott's 11% strike rate at Galway from 710 runs sits below the yard's overall figure while Jack Kennedy's 15% record here from 182 rides is in line with his record elsewhere. The horse usually races prominently, settling handily with medium confidence in that style. As second in the KTB Fit scores he is entitled to respect.
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3Touch The Clouds54/100
Touch The Clouds is lightly raced with only three career runs and recent form of 33-0, which leaves the overall picture still rather hazy. He steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance without winning on his one attempt so far. Half-brother to Shotgun Jack, he is out of a dam who has already produced two winners from three runners to race. Usually prominent, he races handily with medium confidence. Trainer Ross O'Sullivan has an 11% strike rate at Galway from 94 runs while jockey Daniel King is on 7% from 87 rides.
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4This Songisforyou52/100
This Songisforyou is a smart performer with a solid course record at Galway, where he has won one from six starts. He steps up in trip today having last run over a mile and a half, yet has won at this distance in the past. Emmet Mullins operates at a 14% strike rate at the track from 147 runs, in line with the yard's record elsewhere, while Donagh Meyler rides at 7% from 132 rides here. Usually held up, he produces his effort late with medium confidence in that style. His official rating of 115 makes him a clear player on class.
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5Ludus Magnus50/100
Ludus Magnus has shown little so far with a recent string of modest efforts that include a fall and a pulled-up run. He has been beaten on both starts at this trip and comes from a family where the dam's other runner has failed to win. Philip Fenton operates at a 12% strike rate at Galway from 67 runs, in line with his overall record, while Niall Moore is still seeking a first winner at the track from 10 rides. Usually prominent, he races handily with high confidence in that run-style. The fifth-highest KTB Fit score keeps him in the mix among the principals.
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6Louis Winthorpe48/100
Louis Winthorpe makes his debut for Barry Connell, who has a 12% strike rate at Galway from 42 runs. Half-brother to Grade 3 winner Frankie John and out of a dam who has produced three winners from four other runners to race, he is a well-bred newcomer with Sean Flanagan taking the ride at 12% from 248 rides here.
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7Fergy Five48/100
Fergy Five has shown only modest form in two runs so far and was well held when fourth on this track last time. The yard operates at a 6% strike rate here from 296 runs while Sam Ewing rides at 12% from 111 rides. Dropping back in trip today, he is a half-brother to Sequestered out of a dam that has produced at least one winner.
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8Young Mans Game47/100
Young Mans Game has been well beaten on both starts so far and arrives with a very thin profile. The drop back to 2m is a new question while the dam has produced no winners from two previous runners. Trainer Matthew A Daly has no recorded runners at Galway while Alan O'Sullivan operates at a 10% strike rate here from 30 rides.
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9What About Max46/100
What About Max is a debutant with limited information available. Half-brother to Soldier In Mayo and out of a dam that has already produced another winner, he is trained by Donal Hassett who operates at a 5% strike rate at Galway from 147 runs.
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10King Idaho45/100
King Idaho showed little on his sole start when sixth of seven. The yard has an 8% strike rate at Galway from 213 runs while jockey Philip Byrnes is operating at 2% here from 48 rides, both in line with their wider figures. With only one previous run and a modest family background this is very much a watching brief.
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11Midfield Magic44/100
Midfield Magic has shown modest form in two runs, finishing fourth on debut then ninth last time. He is placed once at today's trip and is a half-brother to a modest winner, though the dam's record is ordinary. Trainer Gavin Cromwell operates at a 7% strike rate here from 394 runs while jockey Ben Harvey is 1-33 at Galway.
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12Bog Cross42/100
Lightly raced 8-year-old Bog Cross has only one run in the last year so the recent form of 21F5-7 offers little to go on. Trainer has only two runs at Galway which is too small a sample to judge while the jockey records a 6% strike rate here from 17 rides. Trip has been tried once without success.
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13Menez Are41/100
Lightly raced 4-year-old Menez Are has only one completed start and a recent form line of U5P-0 that offers little to go on. The yard records a 6% strike rate at Galway from 296 runs while the jockey is still seeking a first win from 10 rides at the track. Trip is being cut back to 2m today for the first time.
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14Issy's Lad41/100
Issy's Lad has had just one career run so far and remains lightly raced with limited evidence to go on. The dam has produced one other runner that failed to win. Trainer and jockey both operate at a 7% strike rate at Galway which sits in line with their figures elsewhere.
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15Kidam Roque41/100
Kidam Roque has shown very little so far with a recent string of poor efforts including pulled up and well beaten finishes. He has been tried over today's trip five times without placing and was well held when he ran here once before. The trainer's 3% strike rate at Galway is in line with his record elsewhere while the jockey remains winless from five rides at the track.
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16Cascando41/100
Lightly raced Cascando has just one run in the last year and an official rating yet to be assigned, so this has to be treated with real caution. Has been placed once over this trip but showed little otherwise, and the small sample makes going and overall ability hard to gauge. The yard's 5% strike rate at Galway is in line with their record elsewhere while the jockey is operating below his usual level here.
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17A Hug Or Two40/100
A Hug Or Two is a debutant with low data confidence so the assessment rests on pedigree and connections. Half-brother to a modest three-time winner and out of a dam who has produced three winners from seven runners to race. The trainer has a 0% strike rate from 10 runs at Galway while the jockey operates at a 7% strike rate here.
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18Anunnaki39/100
Anunnaki is a debutant with a half-brother to Rooster Cogburn among a modest family that has produced one other winner from three runners. The yard records a 4% strike rate at Galway from 243 runs, in line with their overall figure. Jockey Mr R Sugrue is still seeking his first win from 13 rides at the track.
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19No Loose Ends38/100
No Loose Ends is a newcomer whose half-brother Bigbadandbeautiful landed a Listed race. The dam has produced four winners from seven runners so there is some pedigree to work with. Trainer P J Rothwell has a 4% strike rate at Galway from 243 runs in line with his overall record while jockey Dylan Robinson is 0 from 23 at the track.
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20Blues Street38/100
Blues Street has shown very little in two starts at this trip, finishing 16th on his only visit to Galway. The yard's 7% strike rate here from 394 runs is below their overall figure while Kieren Buckley's 3% record at the track sits in line with his personal average. With only two career runs and a modest family background the horse remains hard to assess with any confidence.
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21Passive Idaho36/100
Passive Idaho showed little on his only start to date when finishing 15th here over this trip. The yard's 3% strike rate at Galway is in line with their record elsewhere while the jockey is still seeking a first win from five rides at the track. With just one run in the book and a modest family background the horse remains hard to assess.
KTB verdict
Boycetown is the KTB Selection. He has shown fair form in four starts, finishing second and third in his last two completed outings over this trip, and as a lightly raced half-brother to a Listed winner he remains open to improvement. His prominent run-style should be ideally suited to the muddling, tactical pace that is anticipated, and he tops the KTB Fit scores. The main dangers are Thinkitdontjinxit, who has been placed both starts at the trip, the well-bred Touch The Clouds, course winner This Songisforyou who steps back up in distance, and Ludus Magnus who can race handily.
KTB Selection Boycetown
Early prices
The best price per runner across the bookmakers we track, each as first seen (UK time). Every runner had a price by 12:42am, 26 Oct. Prices move — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Early price | Bookmaker, time |
|---|---|---|
| Boycetown | 4/7 | LiveScore Bet, 12:15am |
| Thinkitdontjinxit | 7/2 | LiveScore Bet, 12:15am |
| Touch The Clouds | 14/1 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| This Songisforyou | 9/2 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| Ludus Magnus | 28/1 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| Louis Winthorpe | 4/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:42am |
| Fergy Five | 50/1 | BetTom, 12:15am |
| Young Mans Game | 200/1 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| What About Max | 40/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:42am |
| King Idaho | 12/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:42am |
| Midfield Magic | 33/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:42am |
| Bog Cross | 150/1 | Betfred, 12:15am |
| Menez Are | 200/1 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| Issy's Lad | 150/1 | Betfred, 12:15am |
| Kidam Roque | 200/1 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| Cascando | 33/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:42am |
| A Hug Or Two | 50/1 | BetTom, 12:15am |
| Anunnaki | 66/1 | Virgin Bet, 12:42am |
| No Loose Ends | 22/1 | Bet Victor, 12:15am |
| Blues Street | 150/1 | Betfred, 12:15am |
| Passive Idaho | 150/1 | Betfred, 12:15am |
This is the narrative read of the 2:45 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 course-winning form at Galway?
This Songisforyou has won here with a record of one from six.
How many principals are noted as usually racing prominently?
Four of the five principals — Boycetown, Thinkitdontjinxit, Touch The Clouds and Ludus Magnus — are noted as usually racing prominently.
What is the highest KTB Fit score in the field?
Boycetown has the highest KTB Fit score on 62/100.
Which runner is stepping up in trip having last run over a mile and a half?
This Songisforyou is stepping up in trip having last run over a mile and a half.
How many runners in the field have no course form on record?
Fifteen runners have no course form on record.
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