One of the biggest racing events on the Irish summer calendar is set for this week, as the Galway Summer Festival runs between Monday and Sunday. There will be a mix of flat and jumps races throughout the week, but the two standout events on the calendar come in the form of the Grade Three Galway Plate and the Grade Three Galway Hurdle.
Galway Plate Preview 2026
The feature on day three of the Galway Festival is the prestigious Grade Three Galway Plate, run over an extended two miles and six furlongs. It has served as a springboard to bigger prizes in recent years, with Hewick, the 2022 winner, going on to claim the 2023 King George VI Chase.
As expected, Willie Mullins holds a strong hand for the race this week, with Ballygunner Castle, Spread Boss Ted, and King Alexander all set to take their chance. However, the main Mullins threat looks set to come in the form of Funiculi Funicula, who has been chosen by Paul Townend. The six-year-old has progressed well over fences since the start of April, winning on back-to-back starts at Cork and Punchestown.
Gavin Cromwell’s Will The Wise also commands respect after winning the Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree in early April. Nowwhatdoyouthink could be a very unexposed horse on stable debut for Gordon Elliott, having finished third in Grade One company on his latest start.
Downmexicoway heads the leading dangers from the Henry De Bromhead yard, and the seven-year-old looks on a very lenient mark following an eye-catching fourth in the Sun Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Galway Plate Trends to Consider
Whittling down the 22-runner field can be a huge challenge when assessing the Galway Plate contenders. Still, here are notable trends to consider before making bets on the race:
- Avoid Favourites: Pre-race favourites have a 1/12 record since 2014, but six of the last 12 winners have been in the top three of the betting.
- Recent Fitness: A fitness advantage is a key positive, with all of the last 12 winners having made at least one start in the last 98 days. However, only four victors over the same period won on their latest appearance.
- Weights/Ratings: The trends indicate looking for horses rated between 136 and 149 (10/12) and those carrying 10-13 or less (9/12).
Galway Plate 2026 Prediction
At the prices, Reverend Hubert could be a very interesting contender for the in-form Charles Byrnes stable.
The eight-year-old is unexposed over fences, having won two of his four starts. He also arrives race-fit after returning over hurdles in mid-July, where he produced a career-best RPR in a dominant six-length success.
All of his best runs have come on quicker ground, and this extended trip should play to his strengths. He travelled and jumped efficiently over three miles on his most recent start, suggesting this marathon test will suit him well.
There is every indication that he is still improving over fences, and a handicap mark of 142 looks workable for a horse with his profile.
Phillip Enright also retains the ride, having been aboard Reverend Hubert for the first time since September 2023 when he made a winning return to action at Cork earlier this month.
Galway Hurdle Preview 2026
Attention turns to the smaller obstacles for the feature on Thursday, as a high-quality field is set to line up for the Grade Three Galway Hurdle. Run over two miles, the race has produced notable recent winners including Ndaawi, Nurburgring, and Zarak The Brave.
Gordon Elliott has a strong chance of securing back-to-back wins in the race, with the talented El Cairos heading the betting. The one-time favourite for the G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has always been highly regarded, but jumping issues have been costly in big-race spring defeats at Cheltenham and Punchestown.
Willie Mullins also has several runners entered, with the most notable being five-year-old mare Murcia. A talented juvenile hurdler, she won a Grade One at Aintree in April 2025. Last season was slightly disappointing, as she finished second on her latest start and failed to get involved in the County Hurdle or the Listed hurdle at Punchestown.
At bigger prices, Laafi could be of interest after crossing the line first in a big handicap at Aintree before getting disqualified. Bowensonfire also retains interest for the Elliott yard after winning the 19-runner Spring Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in striking fashion.
Galway Hurdle Trends to Consider
Trends can be a key point to consider when narrowing down the potential contenders in this year’s Galway Hurdle.
- Overlook Favourites: Pre-race favourites have a 2/12 record since 2014.
- Weights/Ratings: Horses carrying 11-7 or less are 10/12, while the same number of winners over the period have been rated between 135 and 146.
- Age: Horses aged between five and seven have won eight of the last 12 renewals. In fact, each of the last three winners has been aged no older than five.
Galway Hurdle 2026 Prediction
El Cairos is the horse to beat in the Galway Hurdle, but his jumping issues make him a difficult favourite to trust. Instead, Gameball could be an interesting alternative for the in-form Henry De Bromhead yard.
The six-year-old showed plenty of promise over hurdles as a novice last season, notably finishing fourth in the Royal Bond on ground that was softer than ideal. He looked an improved performer on return over a slightly longer trip before tiring in the closing stages at Kilbeggan.
Dropping back down to two miles is a clear positive, and he gets an important 6lb from El Cairos and 5lb from Murcia. He is still lightly raced under rules, and there is plenty of ground for progression on his preferred quicker ground.
Trainers to Follow During Galway Festival
With 54 races taking place during the Galway Festival, following historically successful trainers at the meeting could be a useful strategy for finding winners. Here are three yards worth keeping onside:
- Willie Mullins: Unsurprisingly, Mullins is the dominant force at the Galway Festival, having ended the meeting as the top trainer in each of the last ten years.
- Joseph O’Brien: O’Brien’s stable has gone from strength to strength in 2026, and he will have leading chances in both flat and jumps races. His stable has recorded eight winners at the festival over the last two years.
- Noel Meade: Meade has a long history at the meeting, dating to his first festival winner in 1981 (Pinch Hitter), and has landed festival winners in many years since.
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