Galway Races tips: English horse trained by an Irishman to win the Galway Hurdle
Overturn's success in 2010 was the first British win in the race, which has been running since 1913, since Sagaman's win in 1991 while Rushmoor in 1986 was the first foreign trained winner of the race.
Today at Ballybrit we fancy a horse from the UK to capture the big prize, although his trainer is very much born and bred in Ireland.
2.10 - Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase
Galway Hurdle day opens with a Novice Chase and the experienced PIED PIPER can maintain his unbeaten run over fences by making it four wins out of four.
A top class hurdler, who was second in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle and second and third in the 2023 and 2024 County Hurdle at Cheltenham, he's taken to chasing like a duck to water.
He started this summer run at Down Royal in April and has since won novice contests at Roscommon and Killarney and with a mark of 150 it's hard to see him beaten here.
Special Cadeau is interesting for the in-form partnership of Henry De Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe and has a life having finished runner-up to Nurburgring at Killarney on his last start.
TIP: PIED PIPER
Each-way: Special Cadeau
2.45 - Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Handicap
QUAR SHAMAR gets the vote for Ross O'Sullivan in a devilishly difficult 1m handicap.
The German bred was having his first run for that yard having been with Emmet Mullins and Jessica Harrington, when sixth at the Curragh on his most recent start.
He can be marked up a bit for that effort having not had a clear run and has dropped a long way in the handicap from a career high rating of 104 to just 81.
The Durkans had a good festival here 12 months ago and Bill Silvers could run well at a price with Chris Hayes booked to do the steering.
TIP: QUAR SHAMAR
Each-way: Bill Silvers
3.20 - Arthur Guinness Irish Corrib Stakes
UK-based trainer Ollie Sangster sends a rare runner west at a venue where his late grandfather Robert's colours were regular winners for Ballydoyle in the past.
His GLAMIS ROAD comes out of stall two and looks to have a massive chance of building on good runs at Carlisle and Epsom.
She's a lightly raced filly who won twice last season and the hustle and bustle of a race like this might just suit her as will coming off a strong pace.
Top weight Bellaphina has a chance of making the frame having finished third to the smart Sky Majesty in a Stakes race at Naas on her last start.
TIP: GLAMIS ROAD
Each-way: Bellaphina
3.55 - Guinness Nursery Handicap
We'll go for the old punting trick of backing the top weight in a Nursery here and select GAVOO to reverse recent Curragh form with Which Wolf Wins.
David Marnane's colt ran a little green on that occasion and should appreciate the extra furlong here too despite carrying 10st3lbs.
Gavin Cromwell's recent Down Royal third Invincible Will is one that might be capable of improvement on handicap debut.
TIP: GAVOO
Each-way: Invincible Will
4.30 - Guinness Galway Hurdle
The big race of the day, if not the week, and one where a huge gamble on the JP McManus-owned Puturhandstogether could have bookies running for cover.
We missed the boat there so instead our selection is the UK raider DYSART ENOS, who can give Fergal O'Brien a massive winner on his first visit to Galway.
The mare has lots of experience in these types of races having placed in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last year. She was a very smart bumper horse and beat Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace by nine lengths in an Aintree contest back in 2023.
She warmed up for this with a spin on the all-weather at Kempton and looks a value bet to become the first British-trained winner since Overturn in 2010.
Tipperary native O'Brien's only previous winner in Ireland came in 2014 when the Conor Shoemark-ridden Me And Ben struck at Listowel's harvest festival.
There are a host of horses with chances, but last year's runner-up Ndaawi must surely come into consideration having not been seen since chasing home Kargese in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
TIP: DYSART ENOS
Each-way: Ndaawi
5.05 - Guinness Novice Hurdle
CAMELETTA VEGA is a daughter of six-time Cheltenham winner Quevega and dual Derby winner Camelot and can back up her Cork success in this 2m4f contest.
She struggled in bumpers but this type of distance looks more to her liking with her pedigree and it wouldn't be a shock to see her progress into a real nice staying hurdler next season.
The mare she beat, Emily Love, ran well here earlier in the week and she's a confident choice
TIP: CAMELETTA VEGA
Each-way: Ndaawi
5.40 - Guinness 0.0 Handicap
Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle are in sensational form at present with the Donegal born rider mounting a serious title challenge with Colin Keane now based in England for a lot of the time.
They can win this with GLENROYAL, who should improve for a step up to 1m4f, having made the frame on his last two starts over 1m1f at Ballinrobe and Tipperary.
TIP: GLENROYAL
Each-way: Astelia Dylan Browne McMonagle (centre) with Joseph O'Brien: will make his Derby debut (Image: PA)
6.10 - Guinness Time INH Flat Race
A bumper to finish a marathon eight-race card and one where Willie and Patrick Mullins can send punters home happy with WARTIME LEADER.
Second to Shuttle Diplomacy on debut in January 2024 for trainer Pat Doyle, that form has worked out well with Tom Cooper's charge finishing third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
He hasn't been seen since but now calls Closutton home and there'll surely be improvement to come from the son of Churchill.
TIP: WARTIME LEADER
Each-way: Ring Of Kerry
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