6:40 Galway
The Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at Galway is a competitive 23-runner affair over 2m1f on good to yielding ground. With no obvious leader in a steadily-run, tactical race, the pace shape suggests being handy will be an advantage in what looks like a race where course form, trip suitability and yard records at the venue will be key. The KTB Fit ratings highlight Granite Bay as the clear top pick on 74, with a cluster of principals from 60 down to 54 underlining the depth of the handicap.
How the race shapes up
Lacking a confirmed leader, the race is set to be a steadily-run, tactical affair in which prominent or midfield positions should pay. With several hold-up performers in the field, including Tyson Fury, Tounsivator, Galileo Dame and Light Up The Dark, the key question will be whether those ridden for luck can weave through the pack in a race where timing and track position are likely to matter more than raw stamina.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Granite Bay KTB Selection74/100Useful performer who has run to a similar level in recent starts and finished a solid second here over shorter last time.
- 2Holy See60/100Useful sort who has shown a decent level of form with a win and two places from recent efforts.
- 3Sirius58/100Useful performer who has already won over this trip and has a solid record here with one win from two starts at Galway.
- 4Teed Up57/100Teed Up is a fair sort who has won six times at this track from 12 runs and arrives off the back of a placed effort last time.
- 5Clear Quartz54/100Clear Quartz is a fair sort with a solid record here, winning three of his 11 starts at Galway.
- 6Tyson Fury53/100Fair performer who has been in and out this year and arrives off a modest recent run.
- 7Lark In The Mornin53/100Useful performer who arrives in good order after two wins this year.
- 8Smooth Tom52/100Fair performer who has run well at this track before, finishing second here last time out over further.
- 9Jabbar51/100Fair performer who has won over this trip and at this track.
- 10Comfort Zone50/100Useful performer who has shown his best at this track with a third and a fourth from three runs.
- 11Tounsivator50/100Fair performer who showed his best form when winning over hurdles here last time and has placed in both previous runs at the track.
- 12Immutable50/100Fair performer who has won once from three starts at this track.
- 13Glenroyal50/100Useful performer who has already won once over this track from two runs here.
- 14Filey Bay48/100Useful performer who has won once from three starts at Galway.
- 15Galileo Dame48/100Useful performer who has run twice at Galway without placing.
- 16Plontier47/100Fair performer who showed a bit more when second last time out.
- 17Yashin47/100Useful performer on his day but has been well below form in both starts this year and the recent efforts look weak.
- 18Daddy Long Legs47/100Fair performer who has won twice at this trip but looks a shade below his best at the moment having finished ninth on his last two starts.
- 19Eagle Fang47/100Eagle Fang is a useful performer on his figures with a solid recent third at this trip on his latest start.
- 20Westminster Moon47/100Westminster Moon is a useful performer on his day but has been hit and miss lately, including a poor run over 2m4f last time.
- 21Light Up The Dark47/100Fair performer who has shown his best at this track with a placed effort from one run.
- 22Highwind42/100Fair performer who has shown ordinary form on his last two starts after a break.
- 23Too Bossy For Us41/100Fair performer who has been below form on both starts this season and was well held when last seen here over this trip.
The contenders
Granite Bay KTB Fit 74/100
Granite Bay is a useful performer who has run to a similar level in recent starts and finished a solid second here over shorter last time. He steps up in trip for the first time today which asks a fresh question. The trainer and jockey both hold strong records at Galway, with Jarlath P Fahey showing a 17% strike rate and A/E 2.07 while Mr D Doyle has a 13% strike rate and A/E 2.06. A 5-year-old with form figures of 242-43, he is drawn in stall 3 and has been placed once from one run on good to yielding ground. His course record shows a second from one visit.
Holy See KTB Fit 60/100
Holy See is a useful sort who has shown a decent level of form with a win and two places from recent efforts. He steps up in trip today having been placed at this distance before though has only run once on good to yielding ground without placing. Trainer William Durkan has an 8% strike rate from 39 runs at Galway while the jockey has no recorded rides here. A 5-year-old with form figures of 124/10, he is drawn in stall 7. The combination of the trip and ground adds layers of uncertainty to his profile.
Sirius KTB Fit 58/100
Sirius is a useful performer who has already won over this trip and has a solid record here with one win from two starts at Galway. He steps up from 1m4f today while first-time headgear is applied, though he has no experience on good to yielding ground. Mullins has a 16% strike rate from over a thousand runs at the track but the jockey has only three rides here so far, albeit with a 33% strike rate and A/E 3.35. A 7-year-old with form figures of 14/01-, he is drawn in stall 18 and comes with course-winning form as a positive.
Teed Up KTB Fit 57/100
Teed Up is a fair sort who has won six times at this track from 12 runs and arrives off the back of a placed effort last time. He has won at today's trip and has placed twice from five starts on good to yielding ground so the conditions look suitable enough. First-time headgear is now tried while the yard hold a solid 15% strike rate at Galway with an A/E of 0.8. A 9-year-old with form figures of /9103-, he is drawn in stall 13 and boasts a strong course record that cannot be ignored.
Clear Quartz KTB Fit 54/100
Clear Quartz is a fair sort with a solid record here, winning three of his 11 starts at Galway. He has shown his best on good to yielding ground and the trainer holds a strong record at the track with a 13% strike rate and A/E 1.43. The step up to 2m is an unknown and the jockey has had too few rides here to judge, recording 0% from three attempts. A 9-year-old with form figures of 138-28, he is drawn in stall 10 and brings course-winning form into the equation.
The rest of the field
Tyson FuryKTB Fit 53/100
Tyson Fury is a fair performer who has been in and out this year and arrives off a modest recent run. He has placed on this sort of ground and at today's trip without winning, though he now drops back from 2m4f. The yard's modest 6% strike rate at Galway and the jockey's very small sample here add to the unknowns. A 9-year-old usually held up, he is drawn in stall 15.
Lark In The MorninKTB Fit 53/100
Lark In The Mornin is a useful performer who arrives in good order after two wins this year. First run at Galway is neutral given the trainer's solid 12% strike rate from over 500 runs here. He steps up in trip today having already won over this distance once from five attempts while the good-to-yielding ground has suited in the past with one win and a place from just two runs. A 6-year-old, he is drawn in stall 6.
Smooth TomKTB Fit 52/100
Smooth Tom is a fair performer who has run well at this track before, finishing second here last time out over further. He drops back to 2m today having failed to win in four previous attempts at the trip and now tries headgear for the first time. Trainer holds a solid record at Galway while the jockey has an above-average strike rate here. A 7-year-old, he is drawn in stall 14.
JabbarKTB Fit 51/100
Jabbar is a fair performer who has won over this trip and at this track. He steps up in distance today having last run over 1m4f and his only previous try on good to yielding ground brought no joy. First-time headgear is now fitted while the trainer has a solid record here though the jockey's strike rate is modest. A 7-year-old, he is drawn in stall 22.
Comfort ZoneKTB Fit 50/100
Comfort Zone is a useful performer who has shown his best at this track with a third and a fourth from three runs. He drops back from 2m4f to a trip he has won at before, and the first-time headgear is an interesting addition given his placed efforts on good to yielding ground. Trainer and jockey both have solid if unspectacular records here. A 7-year-old, he is drawn in stall 20.
TounsivatorKTB Fit 50/100
Tounsivator is a fair performer who showed his best form when winning over hurdles here last time and has placed in both previous runs at the track. He steps up in trip today having won once at this distance in the past while his record on good to yielding ground is solid with two wins and three places from four starts. Trainer and jockey both have strong records at Galway. A 7-year-old usually held up, he is drawn in stall 19.
ImmutableKTB Fit 50/100
Immutable is a fair performer who has won once from three starts at this track. Recent form is mixed but includes a solid second on his latest outing, though he has shown little on his only previous run on good to yielding ground. He steps up in trip today having won at this distance in the past. A 6-year-old, he is drawn in stall 23.
GlenroyalKTB Fit 50/100
Glenroyal is a useful performer who has already won once over this track from two runs here. He drops back from 2m4f to a trip he has never tried, which asks a fresh question, while first-time headgear is now applied after a poor run last time. Trainer has a solid 12% strike rate at Galway from a big sample, though the jockey's record at the track is more modest at 5%. A 4-year-old, he is drawn in stall 16.
Filey BayKTB Fit 48/100
Filey Bay is a useful performer who has won once from three starts at Galway. He steps back up to a trip he has won at twice from six attempts but his record on good to yielding ground is modest with no win or place from two runs. First-time headgear is now fitted while the jockey has yet to trouble the judge from seven rides at this track. A 10-year-old, he is drawn in stall 2.
Galileo DameKTB Fit 48/100
Galileo Dame is a useful performer who has run twice at Galway without placing. She steps up in trip today having been well held over shorter on her last two starts, with no experience of good to yielding ground. Trainer has a solid 12% strike rate here from a big sample while the jockey is operating at just 3%. A 5-year-old usually held up, she is drawn in stall 5.
PlontierKTB Fit 47/100
Plontier is a fair performer who showed a bit more when second last time out. He has run only once at Galway, finishing sixth, while the step up to this trip asks a fresh question having failed to place in four previous attempts at the distance. First-time headgear is tried on ground he has never encountered. A 10-year-old, he is drawn in stall 8.
YashinKTB Fit 47/100
Yashin is a useful performer on his day but has been well below form in both starts this year and the recent efforts look weak. He steps up in trip with first-time headgear and makes his debut at Galway where both trainer and jockey have very small samples. Going form on good to yielding is modest with no win or place from two runs. A 7-year-old, he is drawn in stall 1.
Daddy Long LegsKTB Fit 47/100
Daddy Long Legs is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip but looks a shade below his best at the moment having finished ninth on his last two starts. He has course experience here though it was a poor run and he is now tried in headgear for the first time. Mullins has a solid 16% strike rate at Galway from a huge sample of runners. A 7-year-old, he is drawn in stall 9.
Eagle FangKTB Fit 47/100
Eagle Fang is a useful performer on his figures with a solid recent third at this trip on his latest start. He steps up in trip again today having shown little when tried over this distance before and arrives without any experience of good to yielding ground. The yard has an 8% strike rate from 39 runs at Galway while the jockey is still seeking his first winner from 40 rides here and first-time headgear is now applied. A 6-year-old, he is drawn in stall 4.
Westminster MoonKTB Fit 47/100
Westminster Moon is a useful performer on his day but has been hit and miss lately, including a poor run over 2m4f last time. He drops back in trip having failed to trouble the judge in two previous tries at this distance and showed little on his only previous visit to Galway. First-time headgear is now applied while both trainer and jockey have solid if unspectacular records at the track. A 6-year-old, he is drawn in stall 11.
Light Up The DarkKTB Fit 47/100
Light Up The Dark is a fair performer who has shown his best at this track with a placed effort from one run. He steps up in trip today having been placed at 2m before, though he is unproven on good to yielding ground. Trainer has a solid 12% strike rate at Galway while the jockey operates at 7%. A 5-year-old usually held up, he is drawn in stall 21.
HighwindKTB Fit 42/100
Highwind is a fair performer who has shown ordinary form on his last two starts after a break. He has won at today's trip but his only run on good to yielding ground brought no joy and he now tries headgear for the first time. Mullins has a solid 16 percent strike rate at Galway from a huge sample. A 6-year-old, he is drawn in stall 17.
Too Bossy For UsKTB Fit 41/100
Too Bossy For Us is a fair performer who has been below form on both starts this season and was well held when last seen here over this trip. He has placed on good to yielding ground and at today's distance in the past but the first-time headgear is now needed to spark a revival. Mullins has a solid 16% strike rate at Galway from a huge sample while Townend is operating at 8% here from 25 rides. A 5-year-old, he is drawn in stall 12.
KTB verdict
Granite Bay stands out as the KTB Selection. A useful performer who has been consistent of late and ran a solid race when second here over shorter on his most recent start, he brings strong trainer and jockey figures at Galway into a race where his prominent draw should help in a steadily-run affair. The step up in trip is the main unknown but the overall profile fits well. Main dangers include Teed Up with his excellent course record, Sirius who has already won over the trip and shown up well at the track, and the in-form Lark In The Mornin who could be suited by the conditions.
KTB Selection Granite Bay
This is the narrative read of the 6:40 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 course record at Galway?
Teed Up has won six times at this track from 12 runs.
How does the pace shape influence the race?
With no one obviously wanting the lead it is likely to be a steadily-run, tactical affair where being handy pays.
Which principals are unproven on good to yielding ground?
Sirius has no runs on good to yielding while Holy See has run once without placing.
Who holds the best trainer strike rate at Galway among the principals?
Jarlath P Fahey has a 17% strike rate at Galway with an A/E of 2.07.
Which horse is stepping up in trip for the first time as a fresh question?
Granite Bay steps up in trip for the first time today.
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