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Established in 1913, the Galway Hurdle is a race run at the Galway Summer Festival in late July or early August which is a handicap race open to runners who are aged four or older. The race is run over two miles in which runners have to contend with nine hurdles.
There are two leading trainers in the Galway Hurdle over the last 20 renewals with both Willie Mullins and Tony Martin who have both won the race four times. Willie Mullins’ winners have been with Clondaw Warrior (2016), Sharjah (2018), Aramon (2020) and Saldier (2021). Tony Martin’s winners have been with Thomas Edison (2014), Quick Jack (2015) and Tudor City (2019 & 2022). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Galway Hurdle are Paul Nolan (2 wins) and Michael Winters (2 wins). There are multiple trainers who have not had the best of times over the last 20 renewals in the Galway Hurdle, Gordon Elliott (0-30), Dermot Weld (0-14) and Jessica Harrington (0-13) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.
The leading jockey in the Galway Hurdle over the last 20 renewals is Paddy Mullins who has won the race three times with those three winners coming from Sharjah (2018), Aramon (2020) and Saldier (2021). The only other jockey to have recorded multiple wins in the Galway Hurdle is Robbie Power (2 wins).
Let’s take a look at all of the runners individually and assess their overall chances. I will then provide an overall summary.
Guiness Galway Hurdle Odds
Zarak The Brave 7/2, Filey Bay 11/2, Brazil 7/1, Glan 8/1, Party Central 10/1, My Mate Mozzie 10/1, Merlin Giant 11/1, Jesse Evans 11/1, Bialystok 12/1, Tudor City 14/1, Fils D’Oudairies 16/1, Mighty Tom 16/1, Captain Conby 20/1, Da Capo Glory 25/1, Icare Allen 25/1, Prairie Dancer 28/1, Lucky Max 33/1, Cash Back 40/1, Amir Kabir 40/1, Gatsby Grey 50/1
Galway Hurdle Entries
FILS D’OUDAIRIES
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Keith Donoghue
Turned away several of these rivals when winning the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary just last month including Cash Back, A Wave Of The Sea, Da Capo Glory and Icare Allen. He carries an extra four-pounds here as a consequence and whilst he is clearly in good form, it would be some achievement to carry this amount of weight to victory. He actually stays a good bit further than this but his trainer has had thirty attempts to win this race previously and unbelievably he hasn’t won it once. Likely to give a good account all the same.
JESSE EVANS
Trainer: Noel Meade
Jockey: Sean Flanagan
Good ground seems to be the key to this fella who has found success on three occasions over hurdles including at this level when winning a Grade 3 race at Tipperary last October. He comes into this race fit and ready having won on the flat a few weeks ago at Leopardstown. That run should have cleared away all of the cobwebs and no surprise if he is capable of a prominent display provided the rain stays away. He was a gallant runner-up to Tudor City in this last year but has been raised eleven pounds in the ratings since then. He may struggle to reverse the form on that basis.
FILEY BAY
Trainer: Emmett Mullins
Jockey: Simon Torrens
Made a progressive start to the campaign for his new trainer last year picking up two good races at Doncaster and Wincanton. He was upped in grade at Newbury and got to within a length of Aucunrisque in the Betfair and then ran another fine race at the Cheltenham Festival finishing third in the County Hurdle to Faivoir. That really is good form coming into this race and with him having a spin on the flat in preparation for this just the other week, he is more than capable of giving another good account. Entitled to be right there at the business end and looks to have a solid chance.
LUCKY MAX
Trainer: Sean Doyle
Jockey: Mikey O’Sullivan
Has not won a race at this trip in a couple of years and all of his recent best form has come over nearly half-a-mile further. He has work to do in order to reverse form with a couple of these including Bialystok and Merlin Giant. With the ground looking as though it may well dry out ahead of the race, his chances of success get bleaker by the hour.
PARTY CENTRAL
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Has proven to be a real money spinner for connections with him picking up eight wins since making his debut in October 2020. He proved to be just as good on the flat last time out as he got the better of Jesse Evans in a race over a mile-and-a-half at Bellewstown. The form has been franked by the runner-up since so it was clearly a good run. Any further drying of the ground would certainly be in his favour and his customary tongue tie is still in place. Looks to have a real chance to end trainers’ hoodoo in this race.
ZARAK THE BRAVE
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
Was last seen chasing home Lossiemouth in the Ballymore Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown back in April beating the likes of Gala Marceau and Nusret. No four-year-old has won this race since Perugino Diamond in 2000, so history is against him. He just seems to lack the experience required especially in a field as competitive as this. Others are preferred despite Paul Townend opting to ride him.
BRAZIL
Trainer: Padraig Roche
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Lost his form somewhat last season and has work to do in order to reverse form with Bialystok based on their meeting at Punchestown in April. His comeback the other day at Kilbeggan with a first time tongue tie hardly set the world on fire. He is talented on his day, but its been a fair while since we saw the best of him. He is best watched here.
MY MATE MOZZIE
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
Jockey: Cian Quirke (5)
Finished in the mid division in this last year but he wasn’t in the same kind of form back then. He made the most of an outing on the flat recently to win in the style of a well back odds-on shot that he was and now has a talented five-pound claimer on board. His yard is going through a bit of a quiet spell at the moment and the last time that he was tried at this level he was beaten over ten lengths. Heart says he is capable of going well but head says ignore.
CASH BACK
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Kieran Callaghan (5)
Has been beaten on his last two starts by the re-opposing Fils D’Oudairies and also has plenty to do to reverse form with stablemate Bialystok based on their meeting at Punchestown back in April. He has won a few egg and spoon races for his yard but he just never seems to put it altogether in order to land a big prize. He has already endured a long year and his losing streak just keeps getting longer. He needs a drop in grade to strike again.
BIALYSTOK
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Danny Mullins
Extremely lightly raced but is certainly going the right way. He was beaten on his first two starts for Willie Mullins but has subsequently won back to back races at Naas and Punchestown. He beat quite a few of these last time out including Fils D’Oudairies, Merlin Giant, Brazil, Lucky Max and Cash Back on similar ground. He has been raised nine-pounds for that success and coupled with the fact that he hasn’t raced in 100 days, it may just be enough to blunt his effort. He is running in the same colours as Sharjah though who was also the last five-year-old to win this in 2018.
MIGHTY TOM
Trainer: Cian Collins
Jockey: Denis O’Regan
Made a comeback after almost a year on the side-lines to finish third to Seddon in a similar handicap at Punchestown at a massive price (40/1). He showed that was no fluke when landing a listed handicap hurdle at Killarney the following month and winning with his head in his chest. He comfortably saw off the re-opposing Glan and should confirm that form here. He actually won a maiden hurdle here back in October 2021 and this is his first time back since. Clearly in good form and ought to go close as he appears to handle soft and good ground.
DA CAPO GLORY
Trainer: Padraig Butler
Jockey: Michael O’Connor
Has been well beaten at this level in the past and may actually be better over further these days. He was last seen winning at Punchestown in June where he got the better of the re-opposing Ash Tree Meadow over two-and-a-half miles. When returned to this trip last time at Tipperary he just couldn’t keep up with two mile specialists including the re-opposing Fils D’Oudairies. Looks to have a lot on his plate and seems out of his depth.
ICARE ALLEN
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Aidan Kelly (5)
Ideally needs soft ground to be seen at his best. He was hiked up in the ratings by the handicapper following a win in similar company at Fairyhouse in February 2022 where he won by eight lengths. That was clearly an over-reaction as he has struggled since. He has been given a chance here now that he is below his last winning mark, so connections will be doing a rain dance. Aidan Kelly also takes five-pounds off and that too will help but still plenty of questions to answer.
PRAIRIE DANCER
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: JJ Slevin
Still in the grip of the handicapper since winning over two miles in what was a competitive enough handicap in September last year. He may well be primed for taking the same race and could well use this race as a stepping stool like he did then. He was beaten over twenty lengths last time out at Ballinrobe in what was his chasing debut. He reverts to hurdles here and hard to make a case for.
CAPTAIN CONBY
Trainer: Eamon Sheehy
Jockey: Darragh O’Keefe
This is way out of his comfort zone and he needs a lot further than this for him to be seen at his best. His profile actually read quite well until the turn of the year where he was beaten almost a dozen lengths in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham and then beaten out of sight in a good handicap at Aintree a few weeks later. He was given a few months off and made a comeback on the flat last month. He has been beaten off lower marks than this in the past and hard to see that changing much here.
GATSBY GREY
Trainer: Oliver McKiernan
Jockey: Phillip Enright
At least comes here race fit having been beaten relatively easily by Jesse Evans on the flat at Leopardstown last month. He suffered a woeful season prior to his break and has been given plenty of chances in similar handicaps. He looks far from capable at competing at this level and is best swerved.
MERLIN GIANT
Trainer: Emmett Mullins
Jockey: Donagh Meyler
Returned to form with a win on the flat at Down Royal back in June where he took advantage of a falling flat rating when partnered by Colin Keane. He ran twice within three days at this meeting last year getting placed on the flat and then winning so he clearly handles the track. A little rain would do him no harm at all and regular pilot Donagh Meyler is back in the saddle. Comes here fit and well and has to be high on any shortlist.
AMIR KABIR
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Sam Ewing
Ran a good race at this meeting last year when chasing home Flaming Moon in a listed Novices’ Hurdle. He was upped in grade following a bit of a break and found the company a little too hot to handle in runs at Fairyhouse and Punchestown. He clearly didn’t stay the extra half mile when last seen out in April. He has won twice before following similar breaks and this is probably a more realistic level. Has a decent jockey on board in Sam Ewing and scrapes in at the foot of the handicap. Lots to like apart from his trainers’ record in the race which is atrocious.
TUDOR CITY
Trainer: Tony Martin
Jockey: Liam McKenna (5)
A remarkable veteran of the game who comes here in search of a third win in this very race. He is usually held up in the midfield before coming with a late surge. He proved his well-being despite being another year older when winning over a mile-and-a-half at the Curragh last time off what was a free falling flat mark. He gets in here off the same mark as last year and with the same jockey on board who takes a further five pounds off. He is entitled to be considered more than most and despite his advancing years, still commands utmost respect.
GLAN
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Danny Gilligan (7)
Guiness Galway Hurdle Tips
Gets in as a reserve here due to the defection of Magic Tricks and he could well be in a position to benefit. His up and coming jockey has already won a race around here this week for JP McManus so his confidence will be sky high. Glan also comes here in good heart following a win over hurdles at Listowel before going in on the flat at Roscommon. They are attempting to win this off a career high mark, but still possible that he is improving.
Filey Bay looks to have a lot in his favour here this afternoon and was purchased by JP McManus just prior to the Cheltenham Festival earlier in the year. That followed two good wins at Doncaster and Wincanton. Good runs in decent company at Newbury and Cheltenham followed and that was much better company than this. A recent spin on the flat should have blown away any cobwebs and Emmett Mullins can strike with his up and coming seven-year-old.
Mighty Tom has gone from strength to strength this season so it is easy to see him putting in another solid effort since making his comeback after a year off the track. He will need to progress again but he has plenty of ability.
Having run so well at this meeting twice last year, Merlin Giant is also taken to come back somewhere near his best. This is clearly a track that suits him well and he returned to form with a win on the flat at Down Royal last time out.
Prediction:
- Filey Bay
- Mighty Tom E/W
- Merlin Giant
