5:35 Galway
The Tote.ie Money-Back 2nd Every Race Handicap Hurdle at Galway brings together a field of 23 for this 2m6f0y contest on good ground. A lack of obvious pace in the race sets up a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy could prove advantageous. The KTB Fit ratings are tightly bunched at the top, with two horses sharing the highest mark of 69, underlining the competitive nature of a race where course and trip experience will carry significant weight.
How the race shapes up
With no confirmed leader in a 23-runner field, the pace is expected to be no stronger than steady and the race will take on a tactical complexion. Those capable of racing handily look best placed to take advantage, while hold-up performers will need to time their efforts precisely off what is likely to be a modest gallop. The key question is whether the principals can assert from mid-division or whether the race will fall to a horse that gets an uncontested run up with the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Hees Dynamite KTB Selection69/100Smart performer who has won at this track and stays this trip well enough.
- 2Coded Welder69/100Smart performer who has shown up well around here, finishing third on his only previous visit to Galway.
- 3Oneforgonzo65/100Smart performer who arrives in decent form having won last time out and shown consistent placed efforts before that.
- 4Mephisto60/100Mephisto is a smart performer on his day with a solid career behind him yet has failed to win or place in three starts at this trip and looks stretched by the l…
- 5Golden Temple60/100Smart performer who has shown his best form on this track despite failing to place in three previous runs here.
- 6Clonbury Bridge59/100Useful performer who has won once and placed twice from five runs at Galway.
- 7Granville Street59/100Smart performer with a solid record here, having won once from four runs at Galway.
- 8Harbour Highway56/100Smart performer who has shown his best form when placed over this sort of trip.
- 9I'll Be Handy56/100Smart performer who has been consistent enough through the spring and early summer without winning.
- 10Camino Rock51/100Smart performer on his day but has been out of form for some time and was pulled up on his last three starts.
- 11Paul Collins50/100Smart performer who has already won over this trip and at this track.
- 12Mighty Berkshire50/100Useful performer who showed fair form when fourth at this track last time out over shorter.
- 13Tangara Bay49/100Smart performer who showed useful form when fourth over 2m3f here last time.
- 14Andys Flame48/100Smart performer who has run well at this level in the past but has looked out of sorts on his last three starts.
- 15Macshadow Des Crai48/100Smart performer who has shown consistent ability in four runs this year, finishing second in a decent race last time out.
- 16Priory Park47/100Useful performer who has won over today's trip and on good ground.
- 17Ollie La Ba Ba46/100Smart performer who has won at this trip in the past but arrives in modest recent form and was well held on his only completed run here.
- 18Imarajan46/100Smart performer who arrives in solid form after a win and a second on his last two starts.
- 19Mavetherave45/100Useful performer who has shown enough in nine starts to suggest he can be competitive without yet having won.
- 20Lucy Wang44/100Useful performer who has been in good heart this year with three wins from her last five starts.
- 21Lord Ffrench44/100Smart performer who has shown useful form on his day but arrives in modest recent order after two below-par runs.
- 22Cornmarket43/100Smart performer who has run well enough at this track in the past and showed he retains ability when second on return last time.
- 23Therellbguddaysyet41/100Useful performer who has shown bits of form on his better days but arrives here on the back of a pulled-up effort.
The contenders
Hees Dynamite KTB Fit 69/100
Hees Dynamite is a smart performer who has already won at this track and stays this trip well enough. He drops back from 2m7f having shown solid placed form on his latest start, which leaves him with every chance in a race of this nature. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at Galway is offset by the jockey's strong 21% record from a small sample of 14 rides, while the combination has produced a positive 5/31 (16%) record with an A/E of 1.13 and LSP of +£1.50. He has two wins from seven starts on good ground and one win from two runs at the course, making him well suited to the conditions.
Coded Welder KTB Fit 69/100
Coded Welder is a smart performer who has shown up well around here, finishing third on his only previous visit to Galway. He has been competitive on good ground without winning, placing on three of five starts, and now steps up in trip having already placed at this distance. First-time headgear is now applied as he attempts to build on recent placed efforts of 300-24. The trainer holds a 9% strike rate at the track from 33 runs with an A/E of 1.3, while the jockey has a 12% strike rate from 52 rides with an A/E of 1.42, and the pair combine for a 17/125 (14%) record with an A/E of 1.06.
Oneforgonzo KTB Fit 65/100
Oneforgonzo is a smart performer who arrives in decent form having won last time out and shown consistent placed efforts before that, with recent figures of 254-15. He drops back to a trip he has won over previously, though his record on good ground is modest with no win or place from two runs. First-time headgear is tried while the trainer holds a solid 9% strike rate at Galway from 22 runs with an A/E of 1.53. The jockey is still seeking a winner from three rides at the track, and the combination shows a 1/8 (13%) record.
Mephisto KTB Fit 60/100
Mephisto is a smart performer on his day with a solid career behind him yet has failed to win or place in three starts at this trip and looks stretched by the longer Galway distance. He has shown little at this track in two runs, with figures of 16th and 7th, and his recent form of 15P-47 has been patchy at best. First-time headgear is reached for while the trainer's modest 5% strike rate here from 138 runs contrasts with the jockey's solid record from a small sample of 11 rides. The pair combine for a 3/18 (17%) record with an A/E of 1.97 and LSP of +£1.75, and he has two wins from 19 starts on good ground.
Golden Temple KTB Fit 60/100
Golden Temple is a smart performer who has shown his best form on this track despite failing to place in three previous runs here. He steps up in trip for the first time in first-time headgear having looked in decent order when winning over 2m4f last time, with recent figures of 69-641. The trainer has a 14% strike rate at Galway from a large sample of 510 runs with an A/E of 0.9, while the jockey holds a 14% strike rate from 96 rides with an A/E of 1.21, and the pair combine for an 18/101 (18%) record with an A/E of 1.22 and LSP of +£19.60. He has four wins from 13 starts on good ground.
The rest of the field
Clonbury BridgeKTB Fit 59/100
Clonbury Bridge is a useful performer who has won once and placed twice from five runs at Galway. He steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance on two of four attempts, while his record on good ground reads just one win from 15 starts. First-time headgear is now applied.
Granville StreetKTB Fit 59/100
Granville Street is a smart performer with a solid record here, having won once from four runs at Galway. He steps up markedly in trip today from a recent 1m4f run, which asks a fresh question of his stamina. The trainer has a modest 6% strike rate from 113 runs at the track while the jockey has only one ride here so far.
Harbour HighwayKTB Fit 56/100
Harbour Highway is a smart performer who has shown his best form when placed over this sort of trip. He has won at 2m6f and was a solid second over 2m7f last time before pulling up on his most recent start. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard has a respectable record at Galway.
I'll Be HandyKTB Fit 56/100
I'll Be Handy is a smart performer who has been consistent enough through the spring and early summer without winning. First-time headgear is reached for after a below-par effort last time and he now steps up markedly in trip having looked stretched at 2m3f. The trainer and jockey both have modest records at Galway while the horse himself is 0-7 on good ground.
Camino RockKTB Fit 51/100
Camino Rock is a smart performer on his day but has been out of form for some time and was pulled up on his last three starts. He drops back in trip here having failed to trouble the judge in his only previous run at this distance. The trainer's modest 8% strike rate at Galway adds little confidence on what is the horse's first run at the track.
Paul CollinsKTB Fit 50/100
Paul Collins is a smart performer who has already won over this trip and at this track. Recent form is patchy but the placed effort last time offers some encouragement and the return to shorter should suit. First-time headgear is now added while both trainer and jockey have modest strike rates here.
Mighty BerkshireKTB Fit 50/100
Mighty Berkshire is a useful performer who showed fair form when fourth at this track last time out over shorter. He steps up in trip today having failed to get competitive on his only previous attempt at this distance. First-time headgear is now applied and the yard has a solid record here.
Tangara BayKTB Fit 49/100
Tangara Bay is a smart performer who showed useful form when fourth over 2m3f here last time. He steps up in trip today which asks a fresh question. The yard has a solid 9% strike rate at Galway from a big sample.
Andys FlameKTB Fit 48/100
Andys Flame is a smart performer who has run well at this level in the past but has looked out of sorts on his last three starts. First run at Galway and first try in headgear add unknowns while the step up in trip is another fresh question. The trainer's modest record here does not inspire confidence.
Macshadow Des CraiKTB Fit 48/100
Macshadow Des Crai is a smart performer who has shown consistent ability in four runs this year, finishing second in a decent race last time out. He steps up markedly in trip today while wearing headgear for the first time, both fresh questions. The trainer has a modest 0% strike rate from 17 runs at Galway while Jack Kennedy brings a solid 15% record from 171 rides here.
Priory ParkKTB Fit 47/100
Priory Park is a useful performer who has won over today's trip and on good ground. He drops back from 3m which could suit, though he has been out of form on his last few starts. The trainer has only had one runner at Galway so the track is an unknown.
Ollie La Ba BaKTB Fit 46/100
Ollie La Ba Ba is a smart performer who has won at this trip in the past but arrives in modest recent form and was well held on his only completed run here. The yard has a modest 3% strike rate at Galway from 32 runs while the jockey is still seeking his first winner from 28 rides at the track. First-time headgear is now fitted.
ImarajanKTB Fit 46/100
Imarajan is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a win and a second on his last two starts. First time headgear is now fitted as he steps up in trip to a distance he has never tried, which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a modest 6% strike rate from 110 runs at Galway while the claiming jockey has had too few rides here to judge.
MavetheraveKTB Fit 45/100
Mavetherave is a useful performer who has shown enough in nine starts to suggest he can be competitive without yet having won. He has been placed twice from three runs on good ground and twice from three starts at this trip, though he drops back from 3m today which asks a fresh question. The trainer has only had two runners at Galway so the track element remains unknown.
Lucy WangKTB Fit 44/100
Lucy Wang is a useful performer who has been in good heart this year with three wins from her last five starts. She drops back from 3m to a trip she has never tried while making her first visit to Galway on ground she has only raced on once without placing. Both trainer and jockey have solid if unspectacular records at the track.
Lord FfrenchKTB Fit 44/100
Lord Ffrench is a smart performer who has shown useful form on his day but arrives in modest recent order after two below-par runs. First time headgear is now tried as he steps up in trip having been beaten on his only previous attempt at this distance. The trainer has yet to strike at Galway from 19 attempts while the jockey's modest course record adds little encouragement.
CornmarketKTB Fit 43/100
Cornmarket is a smart performer who has run well enough at this track in the past and showed he retains ability when second on return last time. He drops back from 3m1f to a trip he has tried twice without success, which asks a fresh question. The trainer and jockey are both 0-from-13 and 0-from-15 at Galway respectively.
TherellbguddaysyetKTB Fit 41/100
Therellbguddaysyet is a useful performer who has shown bits of form on his better days but arrives here on the back of a pulled-up effort. He drops back in trip to 2m6f where he is 0-2 but has been placed once, and he has a solid record on good ground with one win and two places from four starts. The trainer and jockey both have 0% strike rates at Galway from modest samples.
KTB verdict
Hees Dynamite emerges as the KTB Selection. A smart performer who has won at this track and stays this trip well enough, he drops back from 2m7f after solid placed form last time and is helped by the jockey's excellent record at Galway. The steadily-run nature of the race should suit his ability to race handily. Main dangers are headed by Coded Welder, who has shown up well around here and now tries first-time headgear, while Oneforgonzo arrives in decent form and Golden Temple has shown his best at this venue.
KTB Selection Hees Dynamite
This is the narrative read of the 5:35 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 has the strongest jockey record at Galway among the principals?
Hees Dynamite's jockey has a 21% strike rate at Galway with an A/E of 2.73 from 14 rides.
How many of the 23 runners are wearing first-time headgear?
Thirteen runners are wearing first-time headgear: Coded Welder, Oneforgonzo, Mephisto, Golden Temple, Clonbury Bridge, Harbour Highway, I'll Be Handy, Paul Collins, Mighty Berkshire, Andys Flame, Macshadow Des Crai, Ollie La Ba Ba, Imarajan and Lord Ffrench.
Which horse has won over the course and distance before?
Hees Dynamite has won here with one win from two runs at the course and stays this trip well enough.
What is the trainer strike rate at Galway for the yard of the KTB Selection?
The trainer of Hees Dynamite has a 6% strike rate at Galway with an A/E of 0.85 from 185 runs.
Which principal has the best recent form figures entering the race?
Oneforgonzo has the best recent form figures of 254-15, including a win last time out.
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