Galway Hurdle Tips: Runner By Runner Guide From @RoadCheltenham

It’s Day 4 of the 2024 Galway Festival and the feature race is the Galway Hurdle, with 20 runners going to post for one of the most lucrative handicaps of the jumps season.

Noel Meade struck with Pinkerton in the Galway Plate on Wednesday evening and he is represented by Jesse Evans in this race – can he record an unlikely double? Not if Willie Mullins, searching for a sixth Galway Hurdle in nine years, has anything to do with it!

Without further ado, I’m going to take you through each runner in this year’s renewal of the Galway Hurdle and you can find the 1-2-3 at the end!

1. Winter Fog (Brian Hayes)

Always runs his race but has a tough task here. Bolted up in a Grade 3 at Tipperary at the start of July and is up 5lbs for that win. Should run well but would be a shock winner.

2. Daddy Long Legs (Paul Townend)

Looks a Grade 1 horse on quick ground to my eye. Is prone to throwing in the odd stinker but the forecast ground will be of huge benefit to him – has obvious claims.

3. Jesse Evans (Conor Stone-Walsh)

Runner up in this race in each of the previous two renewals. Runs off a 4lb higher mark than last year on paper but his rider’s 5lb claim gives him an outside chance.

4. My Mate Mozzie (Keith Donoghue)

Showed a high level of form over fences and can go close here on his chase form. Went well at Royal Ascot in a lucrative flat handicap over 1m6f in June and should be primed for this.

5. Mighty Tom (Jordan Gainford)

Was sixth in the race last year and runs off the same mark here. However, he has been running over fences since November and is winless in five runs. Not on my shortlist.

6. Nusret (Jonathan Burke)

Was a good juvenile hurdler a couple of years ago but has failed to live up to that form in more recent times. Thrashed by Daddy Long Legs at Punchestown and hard to see him featuring in the finish.

7. Anotherway (Danny Mullins)

A facile winner of a maiden hurdle but he’s underwhelmed since. Has an excellent rider booked and is trained by Willie Mullins so never say never but he wouldn’t be for me.

8. Gorgeous Tom (Darragh O’Keeffe)

He’s improved considerably since a winter break and beat the highly regarded Mistergif at Punchestown in May. Up 14lbs for two wins but looks progressive and could go well.

9. Shecouldbeanything (Sam Ewing)

Would be a fair way down my shortlist for this race. Beaten 16 lengths by Winter Fog the last day and will need to improve on that effort to stand any chance of making the places.

10. Under Control (Nico de Boinville)

Had a dirty scope before an intended engagement at Kelso in March but her trainer says the Galway Hurdle was always the plan this summer. Well backed and could be better than her rating of 137.

11. Nurburgring (JJ Slevin)

Performed well in juvenile hurdles, winning a Grade 3 and running well in Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown. Should relish the quick ground and he has the profile to go well in a race like this. A contender.

12. Williamstowndancer (Rachael Blackmore)

Likely her last run before heading for broodmare duties. She won an amateur flat race at Leopardstown in June and her form is hard to weigh up. Rachael Blackmore gets the leg up.

13. Kings Hill (Jack G Gilligan)

Down the field in the Supreme Novices Hurdle but ran to a reasonable level. A long way behind Daddy Long Legs at Punchestown but a big swing in the weights and runs off a featherweight with his jockey’s 7lbs claim.

14. A Penny A Hundred (Kieran Callaghan)

Another for Willie Mullins. Was beaten 20 lengths in a Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in April and then pulled up over 3m at Ayr. Now back down to 2m, she wouldn’t be for me.

15. Fascile Mode (Jack Foley)

Found life difficult last season but produced a huge performance to beat former Galway Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow at Punchestown. Popular in the betting and likely to be on the scene at business end of the race.

16. Risk Belle (Mark Walsh)

Exposed but back to a workable mark and it would be foolish to write her off. Won a Grade 3 Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December and it’ll be interesting to see if she’s punted on the day.

17. Arctic Fly (Sean Cleary-Farrell)

Has course form but she’s lost her way since then, finishing some 30 lengths behind Williamstowndancer at Tipperary and 36 lengths behind Shecouldbeanything at Listowel. The rank outsider in the betting and with good reason.

18. Icare Debois (Michael O’Sullivan)

Has mixed form. His run behind King Of Kingsfield and Mirazur West in December reads well but he’s unpredictable and could easily flop. Won just once in seven starts over hurdles and tough to back.

19. Ndaawi (Jack Kennedy)

Ran well behind Lark In The Mornin in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but failed to land a punch in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. A return to the minimum trip should suit and she could go under the radar.

20. Petrol Head (Danny Gilligan)

Was off the track for almost two years before the first of two wins in the past couple of months. Gone up 21lbs for those successes and is hard to assess; could have more in hand but could just as easily flop.