Galway Races Summer Festival Preview 2024
The Galway Races begin on the last Monday of July every year. In 2024, the official start date for the summer festival is July 29, with the first race at 4:50 pm. When they founded the festival in 1869, it began as a two-day event. Since then, it has gradually expanded into the seven-day spectacle we all know and love.
There are seven days of racing starting on Monday and ending on Sunday, August 4th. 53 races are being held across this period, with the two most exciting races taking place on Wednesday and Thursday. The Galway Plate and the Galway Hurdle Handicap are the two biggest races at the festival. Fans flock from all over Ireland to watch the best horses compete in these two legendary events.
Who will take the grand prize this year? Below are some Galway Races Summer Festival predictions and betting tips for the main events across Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Galway Plate Predictions 2024
Predicted Winner: Lets Go Champ
Choosing the race winner for the Galway Plate is never straightforward, and this year we predict Lets Go Champ will cause an upset. The horse trained by Henry De Bromhead and jockeyed by Rachael Blackmore won a race of 17 runners in Punchestown. Punchestown featured similar conditions to what we are seeing at Galway, and it was a right-handed undulating track. At 15/2, the returns alone are tempting enough.
The race takes place on Wednesday, July 31 at 19:10. It is the fifth event of the day and we guarantee this will be one of the most exciting races at the festival.
- Lets Go Champ 15/2
- Pinkerton 14/1
- Saint Roi 14/1
Perceval Legallois and In Excelsis Deo are the two frontrunners for the Galway Plate at our online sports betting site. We disagree with the bookies as both horses failed to complete races as recently as February. Perceval Legallois fell at Leopardstown, albeit with jockey Conor Stone-Walsh in the saddle. Whereas, In Excelsis Deo unseated jockey Jonathan Burke at Sandown. Perceval Legallois also fell at Cork last November with Mark Walsh in the saddle. Something to consider before betting on the favourite.
Our horse racing prediction is for Lets Go Champ to win with Pinkerton in second and Saint Roi to round up the top three. The two favourites will be up there for most of the race, but minor mistakes will cost them on their way to the Galway Plate.
— Galway Races (@Galway_Races) July 30, 2024
Galway Plate Betting Tips
Whenever you bet on a horse race, the temptation is to go with the favourite. Perceval Legallois might have won at Galway in October 2023, but since then, two jockeys have failed to finish the race while in the saddle. Instead, we like a bet on Lets Go Champ, who won last May in Punchestown and has no recent history of falling or unseating a jockey.
For betting each way Pinkerton looks like a fantastic option, having won two races this year. The victories came at Punchestown in a field of 17 and Tipperary in a field of 13. Neither win will compare to the pressure of running in the Galway Plate, but we feel confident betting each way will be worthwhile at 14/1.
Besides Pinkerton, there are a few horses with a chance of cracking the top five. You can’t neglect the two favourites who could have a stellar race. But we fancy an outside bet on Idas Boy. The horse last raced in July at Kilbeggan, a right-handed, undulating track in good to yielding conditions. That is almost identical to what the field will face on Wednesday. Betting on the Galway Plate looks to be even more exciting this year.
Galway Hurdle Handicap Predictions
Predicted Winner: Gorgeous Tom
Our racing prediction for the Galway Hurdle Handicap is for Gorgeous Tom to win the grand prize. The horse trained by Henry De Bromhead and jockeyed by Darragh O’Keeffe has been in fine form this year. Gorgeous Tom picked up the win at Punchestown in May and another first place in a field of 19 at Naas. With odds worth 10/1, Gorgeous Tom is a frontrunner for the race on Thursday.
This event takes place on Thursday, August 1st at 17:05. It is the sixth race of the day and one of the most popular across the entire festival.
- Gorgeous Tom 10/1
- Daddy Long Legs 8/1
- Gaucher 12/1
If you check the horse racing odds at Novibet, Nicky Henderson’s horse Under Control looks to be the current favourite. However, with only one race in 2024, it’s hard to see Under Control making the top three. Daddy Long Legs has a fantastic chance to win this race, having picked up two wins in April. Legendary trainer W P Mullins and jockey Paul Townend have been fantastic to watch all season long, but can Daddy Long Legs take home the win? The recent fifth-place finish at Tipperary was a surprise, but the win at Punchestown in April in a field of 24 certainly shows this runner will be in the mix.
The most likely outsider to crack the top three is Gaucher, having also won at Punchestown. The horse is another of W P Mullins, but it is not clear who the jockey will be on Thursday. There is still time for the field to shuffle before the race, opening the door for the likes of Fascile Mode and Nurburgring.
Galway Hurdle Handicap Betting Tips
Betting on the winner of this race won’t be easy, but we are sticking with Gorgeous Tom. Daddy Long Legs looks to be the closest challenger, but the horse pulled up with Townend in the saddle in December and has finished sixth, first, first, and fifth this year. Who knows what horse will turn up on Thursday, but if it’s the one that came first at Punchestown in April, then we are in for a photo finish.
Betting each way does offer players some excellent opportunities in this race. Behind the leaders, you have the likes of Nurburgring and Fascile Mode. Both runners have recent race wins, mixed in with several midfield performances. Gaucher is our betting tip for an outsider coming in the top three, and at 12/1, there is a good chance of profit.
Currently, there are 31 runners declared for the event. The field size is set to close as several horses are competing in other events at the Galway Races Summer Festival. Ensure you check the other races across every day of the festival to keep updated with the latest news.
@Galway_Races remains Good, Good to Yielding in places (NH) Yielding (Flat). Watering commenced at 4.30am this morning. Outlook up to Friday morning is currently mild and dry with the possibility of light showers. pic.twitter.com/DVeKEp9p37
— Galway Races (@Galway_Races) July 30, 2024
Guinness Handicap Predictions 2024
Predicted Winner: Sirius
The Guinness Handicap takes place on Friday, August 2nd at 18:35. This is one of the most difficult races to predict thanks to the strict entry requirements. However, we are going for the W P Mullins-trained horse Sirius. The horse has three wins dating to July 2022, most recently on July 29th at the Galway Races Summer Festival.
- Sirius 11/1
- Going Remote 10/1
- Derry Lad 8/1
While there might be some concerns about fatigue, especially after racing on the first day of the festival. However, with four days’ rest, we back Sirius as the race winner on Friday. The field lacks a clear favourite thanks to the criteria. Most horses have run in events three or more times this calendar year. Derry Lad is the co-favourite at our online bookmaker, having registered two third-place finishes in May. However, with a fall in Gowarn Park last November, we think a race win is a stretch too far this week.
Looking at the field, there is a lack of strong candidates for the win. Any horses with race wins also have finishes towards the back end of the pack. Going Remote is the most consistent of the frontrunners, having picked up two second-place finishes and a win since May 30 2024. However, the recent fourth-place finish in July means we think second is the best jockey Wayne Lordan can hope for.
Guinness Handicap Betting Tips
Betting on the race winner will be risky, but with high risk comes substantial rewards. The field stretches from 8/1 to 50/1, and almost every runner has a chance of crossing the line first. Bialystok is the co-favourite thanks to trainer W P Mullins. However, having fallen as recently as April in Punchestown, we think a race win is a little unlikely.
Instead, we are sticking with Sirius to cause an upset and win from the middle of the pack. Going Remote is our best choice for betting each way, but several outsiders catch the eye. Dutch Schultz has raced six times this year, finishing second four times in a row and winning in Tipperary in July. At 22/1, we fancy jockey Rory Cleary creeping into the top five.
As there is no clear favourite, betting on this horse race will be difficult. We recommend some restraint in the size of your stake, as it will be easy to come away with a losing wager on Friday. With the odds as rewarding as they are, you can afford to bet small and still secure large returns.
Oh, hello there 👀
𝐁𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 🫧 rises to the occasion in the @ColmQuinn_bmw @IrishEBF_ Fillies' Maiden @Galway_Races
The young daughter of No Nay Never, who holds a Debutante entry @curraghrace, looks another sharp one for @coolmorestud and @Ballydoyle 🔵🟠 pic.twitter.com/XTv9jQGAgE
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 30, 2024
Saturday, August 3: Handicap Hurdle Predictions 14:30
Predicted Winner: Happy Jacky
The 2:30 pm Handicap Hurdle on Saturday, August 3rd will be difficult to call. Currently, there are 38 runners in the field, but this number will reduce as we get closer to race day. Happy Jacky is our pick as trainer Mark Fahey and jockey Peter Smithers have ridden to consecutive victories. They won in July at Cork and the month before in Kilbeggan, a racetrack with similar conditions to Galway.
- Happy Jacky
- Bardenstown Lad
- Zeeband
Although there is no way of knowing who will race on Saturday, Gale Mahler is one to keep an eye on. The horse has raced six times since May, picking up six wins, including one on July 30th at Galway. We think it’s unlikely the horse will race again so soon, but it would be hard to ignore for anyone betting on the event.
Other horses to track include Bardenstown Lad, Zeeband, and Born Braver. All three horses have two recent wins, including impressive results in Killarney. We are in for a stellar race if all three make the cut on Saturday.
Sunday, August 4: EBF Ahonoora Handicap Predictions 16:00
Predicted Winner: Facethepuckout
The last big race of the Galway Races Summer Festival is at 4:00 pm on Sunday, August 4th. There are 36 runners in the field so far, but this should decrease as we approach the race. Looking at the field, there is no clear favourite thanks to the strict entry requirements. Depending on who makes the start, we are backing Facethepuckout to win on Sunday.
However, our horse racing prediction for this race depends on which runners declare. Most of the field already competed in one race at the Galway Festival. There is no way of knowing whether all the horses have recovered enough to compete. That means you must be cautious when betting on a runner who has already raced at the festival.
Based on the current race card, there is no dark horse or clear favourite to take the win. However, Reidh won in a field of 16 at Galway on July 30th. If Reidh participates, they are well worth a bet to win. However, if the horse is not competing, Facethepuckout is our choice.
Galway Races Summer Festival Details
There are seven days of fantastic horse races between Monday, July 29 and Sunday, August 4. The two main events take place on Wednesday and Thursday. The 2024 Galway Plate starts at 7:10 pm and is the fifth race of the day. On Thursday, the Galway Hurdle Handicap takes place at 5:05 pm, the sixth race of eight. We have also provided betting tips for the biggest races on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
If you are a fan of horse racing, you can sign up and claim a welcome bonus at Novibet. We have every event at the Galway Races Summer Festival for our members to bet on. Whether you want to place your wagers in advance or make live bets during the race, the choice is yours.
Galway Races Summer Festival The Going
The latest going report from the Galway Races indicates good and good to yielding in places. There is the possibility of light showers throughout the week, but that should not affect the going.
Instead, the organisers will water the course in the early morning, softening things for the first few races. Expect firmer conditions for the events taking place later in the day as the surface dries out after races.
