The final weekend of the 2025 Galway Races Summer Festival is fast approaching, thrilling racing fans across Ireland and beyond with the promise of a dramatic, action-packed grand finale. Held at Ballybrit Racecourse in County Galway from Friday 1st August through Sunday 3rd, the festival combines both National Hunt jump racing and lively flat races across the three days.
It is the pulsating conclusion to a seven‑day spectacle that began on Monday 28th July, and by the time the gates open for the weekend, visitors can already feel the buzz in the city and at the racecourse.
For Irish racing fans, this weekend is an opportunity not only to witness competitive horses and talented jockeys, but also to revel in a vibrant festival atmosphere full of fashion, music and entertainment that defines the lighter, more convivial side of Irish race week.
Whether you’re drawn by the thrill of jumping fences or the speed of flat sprints, the final weekend delivers a richly varied experience.
Check out the odds on the Galway Festival at Tonybet.
Friday’s Fair Lady – Friday 1st August
On Friday 1st August, known as Friday’s Fair Lady, the mood shifts into gear after the midweek highlights of Wednesday’s Galway Plate and Thursday’s Ladies Day. Ballybrit’s gates open at 14:15, and by 17:00 the first of eight National Hunt races is underway.
The schedule that evening runs steadily until approximately 20:40, offering a packed card of jump racing that features a mix of new‑to‑form novices and seasoned handicap chasers. This opening night sets the tone for the three‑day weekend.
The James’s Gate Irish EBF Maiden Auction is the first of eight races on the evening card, though jumps fans will be eagerly anticipating the Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Steeplechase later on.
This race is for horses that didn’t get a run in the Galway Plate. Gordon Elliott was victorious last season with Battleoverdoyen, a two-time Grade One winner, and he will be a trainer to keep an eye on for this race and others over the weekend.
However, the Guinness Handicap over a mile is the feature on Friday. Joseph O’Brien’s Lark In The Mornin, a former Cheltenham Festival winner, has been entered and will be extremely popular among punters in the betting ring.
The penultimate race on Friday is the Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race over one mile and six furlongs. This is a competitive-looking card that always draws high-class horses. Trainers Mark Fahey, Gavin Cromwell and Ross O’Sullivan all have early entries worth keeping an eye on.
Find out about Tonybet’s Galway Festival offers here.
Summer Saturday – Saturday 2nd August
Saturday 2nd August brings a complete change of pace and mood at Ballybrit as the weekend’s focus shifts solely to flat racing. This day, billed as Summer Saturday, opens its gates at 11:30 with the first of eight flat races departing the stalls at 14:00 and the final race closing out around 18:05.
The entire card is dedicated to flat contests, ranging from two‑year‑old maiden events to competitive handicap races for fillies and mares. The card begins with marquee events such as the Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle – though intriguingly no longer a hurdle, now rebranded as a flat-style handicap after shifting days in 2025 to sit on Saturday – offering a platform for form horses declared after the Galway Hurdle card had been finalised.
This race typically showcases strong possibilities for improving hurdlers or former novices making a bold transition. It was moved intentionally this year to improve entry planning and post‑Thursday declarations. Following that, several flat maiden races provide a window into some of the most promising two‑year‑old stock in training, many representing elite Irish yards.
The Listed BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle is the feature race, which is followed by a maiden over one mile. Willie Mullins has entered Chart Topper, Jalila Moriviere and Tounsivator, hoping to win the big prize. However, Gordon Elliott is also trying his hand with Timmy Tuesday and Minella Sixo, with the former looking like his best chance of coming out on top.
Aidan O’Brien won the maiden race last year with Puppet Master, and has in fact won eight of the last 10 renewals in this race. Expect O’Brien to be a popular trainer this weekend for bettors.
Saturday concludes with the mares’ bumper, often dominated by Willie Mullins, and last year’s winner Cameletta Vega kicked on to pick up other major races throughout the year. Whoever he enters will likely be at the top of the market – and will be one to follow if victorious.
Mad Hatters Day – Sunday 3rd August
Sunday 3rd August marks Mad Hatters Day, the final and most family‑friendly day of the festival. Gates again open at 11:30, but proceedings begin at 14:00, with the programme wrapping up around 17:40 after eight races that blend jumps and flat once more.
The racecard features opportunity and handicap hurdle races such as the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle and the Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle, both of which allow younger or improving hurdlers to take on seasoned rivals. These races are often filled with strong returning form horses or those stepping up after recent efforts.
The card also includes two intriguing steeplechases – the Kinlay Hostel Steeplechase and the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Steeplechase – where stayers and experienced chasers tackle open courses and fences.
On the flat side, Sunday’s feature includes the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap, offering stakes to fillies and older horses over middle distances, while an Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden provides a stage for pedigreed but inexpensive horses to show their pace.
The final feature of the week concludes with the Premier Handicap, a race often dominated by the Brits. Having won eight of the last 20 renewals, there are at least five entries looking to make this nine as the festival comes to a close.
Find out horse racing odds and more at Tonybet.
Irish trainers at the festival
Irish training expertise is on full display across the final weekend of the 2025 Galway Races Summer Festival. Legend Aidan O’Brien dominates the flat weekend, having garnered numerous wins in juvenile and maiden races at Galway over the years.
Horses from Coolmore stables frequently fill the Whiriskey and Bathshack maiden lines on Summer Saturday, and his recent juveniles often arrive with progressive form, pacing speed, and the training pedigree to dominate flat sprints and one‑mile contests.
Meanwhile, the jump programme sees top-tier representation from Willie Mullins, who holds the record for Galway Hurdle wins and often sends strong entries on Friday and Sunday’s hurdle cards. His horses are typically well‑prepared for Irish handicap hurdles and chases, with tactical speed and proven staying power.
Joseph O’Brien merges both disciplines: his flat horses often appear in fillies’ handicaps or competitive similar handicaps, while his National Hunt division steps into events such as the Saturday‑shifted Galway Tribes Handicap.
Dermot Weld continues to field powerful contenders in the flat handicaps on Saturday and Sunday, particularly in races such as the Ardilaun and Ahonoora, where horses can thrive over middle distances with strong breeding and weight placement.
Across five‑and‑six‑year‑old handicap divisions, Irish-trained horses frequently command attention on form, especially those with proven track records at Ballybrit.
Our expert prediction
The closing weekend at Galway promises a rich tapestry of racing action, fashion, entertainment and local charm. To stay engaged and make informed bets, punters would do well to follow odds and declarations as they emerge from Thursday onwards, especially for races such as the Galway Tribes Handicap, which shifted to Saturday in 2025, allowing for late declarations and strategic entries after the Galway Hurdle card is confirmed.
Punters should look for improving juveniles and accurately handicapped horses with stable form pointing upward, and horses stepping down in class or trip may also outperform expectations – particularly in maiden and mid-tier handicap events. Course form at Ballybrit matters: front‑running hurdlers can dominate on drying ground, while hold‑up flat horses sometimes benefit from a fast early pace.
Weight remains a decisive factor in handicap races. A few pounds below top weight can yield winning value. Top Irish trainers including Mullins, Weld and the O’Brien yards often bring well‑prepared runners capable of delivering wins at this festival.
As the 2025 Galway Races Summer Festival reaches its thrilling conclusion, the final weekend is set to deliver a perfect mix of top-tier racing, buzzing crowds and that unmistakable Ballybrit atmosphere. From Friday’s jump action to Sunday’s family-friendly Mad Hatters Day, this is where form, fashion and fierce competition all collide. It’s a standout moment on the Irish racing calendar – and this year promises a finish to remember.
For punters looking to stay ahead, Tonybet provides full coverage of every race across the weekend. With real-time odds, live streaming and race-specific features tailored to Irish meetings, it’s a sharp, reliable platform whether you’re backing favourites or hunting for value.
If you’re betting at Galway this weekend, Tonybet’s best odds and flexible cash-out options make it a go-to choice. With shifting fields and late declarations, staying connected is key – and Tonybet gives you everything you need to react fast and bet smart.
