5:45 Galway
The Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Steeplechase at Galway brings together a field of 23 for this competitive 2m2f54y event on good ground. The KTB numbers highlight a clutch of smart and useful performers near the head of the market, with the top five all rated within nine points of each other on the Fit scale and boasting recent placed form or course-winning records. Overall the race looks open, though the tentative pace shape adds an element of uncertainty to how the contest will unfold.
How the race shapes up
With the pace shape reading as tentative on limited evidence, it is unclear whether any horse will seize the early lead with real conviction. My Cullen is the one noted as tending to make the running or race prominently, yet the majority of the field are either held up or lack a defined run-style on the available data. This leaves the key question of whether the race will develop into a true test or a more tactical affair, with late closers potentially advantaged if the tempo stays modest.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Giant Haystacks KTB Selection69/100Useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a placed effort last time and has the benefit of first-time headgear.
- 2Crescent Moon64/100Smart performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of pulled-up efforts before two modest fifths.
- 3Ned In The Park62/100Smart performer who arrives in solid form after a second last time out.
- 4Leave In Secret61/100Smart performer who has won over this track and has placed both starts at today's trip.
- 5Fort Randall60/100This smart performer has solid placed form on his most recent two starts and a strong course connection through his yard.
- 6Butter Fingers59/100Smart performer who arrives in form after a clear-cut win last time and holds solid ratings.
- 7Cahirdown Boy58/100Useful performer who has been generally out of form in recent seasons and was pulled up or well beaten on his last three completed starts.
- 8Truckers Cruising57/100Smart performer who has shown his best around this sort of trip in the past but arrives here on the back of a poor run and is now tried in first-time headgear.
- 9A Snow White Park57/100Useful performer who has been consistent of late with three placed efforts in her last five starts.
- 10Driveonwill56/100Useful performer who showed fair form when winning at Punchestown last time before an unseat.
- 11Finnians Row55/100Smart performer who has won his last two starts and looks to have the ability to go well again.
- 12Stoneyford Lady53/100Useful mare who has run to a good level on her day and has already won over today's trip.
- 13Party President53/100Party President is a smart performer with solid recent efforts including two seconds from his last four starts.
- 14That's About Right52/100Useful performer who has won on good ground and at today's trip.
- 15Mount Shenshan50/100Mount Shenshan is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning for a while, posting solid rather than sparkling efforts on his last three sta…
- 16Tell Us This49/100Smart performer who has won at this trip but has been below form on his last two starts and has never placed in two runs at Galway.
- 17Drop A Threat49/100Useful performer who has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts.
- 18Sea Of Doubt49/100Sea Of Doubt is a useful performer who has been consistent this year with a string of placed efforts from his last five starts.
- 19Herja49/100Useful performer who has been consistent without winning lately and steps up in trip with first-time headgear.
- 20Kilbrin Rocco48/100Smart performer who arrives in solid form having won at Listowel last month before a good second at Killarney.
- 21Stily47/100Stily is a fair handicapper who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning.
- 22My Cullen45/100Fair performer who has been placed twice on good ground from seven tries.
- 23Max Time43/100Modest performer who has won once in five runs at Galway.
The contenders
Giant Haystacks KTB Fit 69/100
Giant Haystacks is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a placed effort last time and has the benefit of first-time headgear. He drops back in trip having failed to land a blow at this distance on his only previous try, though he has won on good ground. The seven-year-old has no course form on record but the trainer boasts a 14% strike rate at Galway from 72 runs with an A/E of 1.34, while the jockey is 12% from 49 rides here with an A/E of 1.51. Recent form of 75-431 underlines his competitiveness, and the combination of yard and rider statistics at the track adds to his appeal in a race where both hold solid records.
Crescent Moon KTB Fit 64/100
Crescent Moon is a smart performer who has been out of form for some time with a string of pulled-up efforts before two modest fifths. He has course experience here, having finished fourth on his sole visit, and steps up in trip today which looks a fresh question, while first-time headgear is also tried. The trainer's modest 7% strike rate at Galway from 358 runs with an A/E of 0.7 is offset by the jockey's strong 23% strike rate from his 13 rides at the track with an A/E of 2.68. Recent form of PPP-55 reflects the current lull, yet the six-year-old retains the ability to figure if the new headgear and longer trip spark a revival.
Ned In The Park KTB Fit 62/100
Ned In The Park is a smart performer who arrives in solid form after a second last time out. The trainer has a modest 4% strike rate at Galway from 133 runs with an A/E of 0.48 while the jockey fares better with an 11% record from 18 rides here and an A/E of 1.67. He drops back in trip to a distance he has not tried before and is placed rather than a winner on good ground, with five places from seven starts on the surface. Recent form of 1-4932 shows consistency, and the seven-year-old could capitalise on his current well-being if the drop in distance suits.
Leave In Secret KTB Fit 61/100
Leave In Secret is a smart performer who has won over this track and has placed both starts at today's trip. He drops back from 2m7f with the first-time headgear on, which could sharpen him up after two ordinary efforts this season. The trainer has a solid 11% strike rate at Galway from 85 runs with an A/E of 1.18 while the jockey's strike-rate is low at 4% from 25 rides with an A/E of 0.5. Recent form of 467-74 is unconvincing of late, yet the seven-year-old's course record of one win from four starts and placed efforts at the trip make him worthy of respect.
Fort Randall KTB Fit 60/100
Fort Randall is a smart performer who has solid placed form on his most recent two starts and a strong course connection through his yard. He has already shown he handles good ground with a win and three places from six runs, though his sole previous visit to Galway brought only a modest seventh. Stepping up in trip for the first time today asks a fresh question of him while the trainer's modest 3% strike rate at the track from 58 runs with an A/E of 0.69 remains a negative. Recent form of 7/1-31 nevertheless points to a horse in reasonable order.
The rest of the field
Butter FingersKTB Fit 59/100
Butter Fingers is a smart performer who arrives in form after a clear-cut win last time and holds solid ratings. The step up in trip poses a fresh question while he is only 1-2 on good ground so far. The trainer holds a strong 14% strike rate at Galway from 72 runs with an A/E of 1.34 but the jockey has had too few rides here to judge at 0% from two.
Cahirdown BoyKTB Fit 58/100
Cahirdown Boy is a useful performer who has been generally out of form in recent seasons and was pulled up or well beaten on his last three completed starts. He drops back in trip today with first-time headgear on, though his record at this distance is modest. The trainer's modest 6% strike rate at Galway from 106 runs with an A/E of 0.78 is offset by the jockey's strong 17% record at the track from 12 rides with an A/E of 1.9.
Truckers CruisingKTB Fit 57/100
Truckers Cruising is a smart performer who has shown his best around this sort of trip in the past but arrives here on the back of a poor run and is now tried in first-time headgear. He has never won or placed on good ground from four attempts and drops back in trip having looked stretched over farther last time. The trainer and jockey both have solid Galway records though the yard's strike-rate here is only 11% from 671 runs with an A/E of 0.77.
A Snow White ParkKTB Fit 57/100
A Snow White Park is a useful performer who has been consistent of late with three placed efforts in her last five starts. She has shown some ability on good ground and the drop back in trip looks a reasonable move, though she was well held on her only previous try at this distance. The trainer and jockey both have established records at Galway though neither is operating at a high strike rate here, and her sole run at the track was unplaced.
DriveonwillKTB Fit 56/100
Driveonwill is a useful performer who showed fair form when winning at Punchestown last time before an unseat. He drops back in trip today to a distance he has not tried, which poses a fresh question, while he is also fitted with headgear for the first time. The trainer has a solid 14% strike rate at Galway from 72 runs with an A/E of 1.34 but the jockey is operating at 8% from 116 rides here with an A/E of 0.77.
Finnians RowKTB Fit 55/100
Finnians Row is a smart performer who has won his last two starts and looks to have the ability to go well again. He drops back in trip having won twice at this distance in the past while his record on good ground is solid with four wins from ten runs. First-time headgear is an unknown and both trainer and jockey have modest strike rates at Galway.
Stoneyford LadyKTB Fit 53/100
Stoneyford Lady is a useful mare who has run to a good level on her day and has already won over today's trip. She showed a bit more spark when third last time but her record on good ground is modest and she now tries a new track. First-time headgear is an unknown on a day when both trainer and jockey have solid rather than standout records here.
Party PresidentKTB Fit 53/100
Party President is a smart performer with solid recent efforts including two seconds from his last four starts. He steps up in trip today having never tried this far which asks a fresh question of him while his first run at Galway is simply unknown rather than a negative. The trainer has no recorded runners here and the jockey is 0-5 at the track.
That's About RightKTB Fit 52/100
That's About Right is a useful performer who has won on good ground and at today's trip. Recent form has been patchy and the first-time headgear is an unknown. The trainer's modest 4% strike rate at Galway from 227 runs with an A/E of 0.56 adds a note of caution.
Mount ShenshanKTB Fit 50/100
Mount Shenshan is a fair performer who has been consistent enough without winning for a while, posting solid rather than sparkling efforts on his last three starts. He drops back in trip today having looked stretched over further last time, though he has failed to place in three runs on good ground and makes his first appearance at Galway. The trainer holds a respectable 14% strike rate here from 192 runs with an A/E of 1.36 while the jockey's 3% record from 242 rides with an A/E of 0.44 is weaker.
Tell Us ThisKTB Fit 49/100
Tell Us This is a smart performer who has won at this trip but has been below form on his last two starts and has never placed in two runs at Galway. The yard and jockey are both without a winner here from large samples. First-time headgear is now tried on good ground where he has a solid record with two wins from seven runs.
Drop A ThreatKTB Fit 49/100
Drop A Threat is a useful performer who has been out of form this year with a string of modest efforts. He drops back in trip while wearing first-time headgear and that combination asks a fresh question. Mullins has a solid 16% strike rate at Galway from 1139 runs with an A/E of 0.83 but the 7 lb claimer is still seeking his first winner here from ten rides.
Sea Of DoubtKTB Fit 49/100
Sea Of Doubt is a useful performer who has been consistent this year with a string of placed efforts from his last five starts. He has already won over today's trip and handles good ground, though he showed little on his only previous run at Galway. The yard has a poor record here from 15 runs and this is his first time in headgear.
HerjaKTB Fit 49/100
Herja is a useful performer who has been consistent without winning lately and steps up in trip with first-time headgear. She has placed over today's distance but is unproven at Galway where both trainer and jockey have struck out in multiple attempts. She goes well on good ground with a win and multiple places from eleven runs.
Kilbrin RoccoKTB Fit 48/100
Kilbrin Rocco is a smart performer who arrives in solid form having won at Listowel last month before a good second at Killarney. First time headgear is now fitted as he steps up in trip for the first time in a while. The trainer and jockey both have modest records at Galway.
StilyKTB Fit 47/100
Stily is a fair handicapper who has shown consistent placed form at this trip without winning. He has been placed twice from four runs at Galway though his latest effort here was poor, and the yard's modest 3% strike-rate at the track from 77 runs with an A/E of 0.42 adds a negative. He acts on good ground and steps up only slightly in distance today.
My CullenKTB Fit 45/100
My Cullen is a fair performer who has been placed twice on good ground from seven tries. Dropping back in trip today to a distance he has never tried asks a fresh question and the first-time headgear is another unknown. The trainer's modest 5% strike rate at Galway from a big sample of 344 runners with an A/E of 0.56 suggests this one will need to improve on recent form to be competitive here.
Max TimeKTB Fit 43/100
Max Time is a modest performer who has won once in five runs at Galway. Recent form has been poor with three pulled-ups from his last five starts and he has failed to place in ten runs on good ground. First-time headgear is tried as he drops back in trip today.
KTB verdict
Giant Haystacks stands out as the KTB Selection. A useful performer in decent nick after a recent placed effort, he benefits from first-time headgear and the yard-jockey combination that both hold solid strike rates at Galway. The drop back in trip is a slight concern given his previous effort at the distance, yet his ability on good ground and overall profile make him the one to beat. Main dangers include Crescent Moon, who retains smart ability despite a recent lull and has the benefit of a strong jockey record at the track, and Ned In The Park, who arrives in solid form and could improve for the drop in trip. Leave In Secret's course record and Fort Randall's recent placings also demand respect in a race where several hold each other closely on ratings.
KTB Selection Giant Haystacks
This is the narrative read of the 5:45 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 course-winning form at Galway in this field?
Leave In Secret has won here from four starts, while Max Time has won once from five runs at the track.
How many principals are wearing first-time headgear?
Three of the five principals are wearing first-time headgear: Giant Haystacks, Crescent Moon and Leave In Secret.
Which runner steps up in trip for the first time today?
Crescent Moon steps up in trip today, while Fort Randall is also stepping up in trip for the first time.
Who has the strongest jockey record at Galway among the principals?
The jockey on Crescent Moon has a 23% strike rate at Galway from 13 rides with an A/E of 2.68.
Which horse in the field has the most placed efforts on good ground?
Herja has a win and multiple places from eleven runs on good ground.
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