Galway Festival day three: Betting tips, odds, and race rundown
Away from the flagship race of the day, there's a card full of competitive action up for decision.
🏇 Quick Galway Festival day three tips
Win singles and each way bets
with odds from the
5:05 Tote #50,000 Guaranteed Placepot Today Maiden Hurdle:
Hipop De Loire
5:35 Tote Money-back 2
nd
Every Race Today Handicap Hurdle:
6:05 Tote, #5,000 Guaranteed Jackpot Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle:
Enfranchise
6:40 Grade 3 Tote Galway Plate:
7:15 Download The Tote App Maiden:
Goldinthevallys
7:50 Watch Danny's Diary – 15 Years Of Tote Memories Handicap:
Sunjet
8:20 Tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap:
Feud
5:05 Tote #50,000 Guaranteed Placepot Today Maiden Hurdle (5yo+) - 2m6f
Zannadabad is 0-8 over hurdles, but he has run some fine races in defeat that would give him a live chance here. Gordon Elliott's Son Of Anarchy came with a tall reputation after his point-to-point win, but has yet to hit the heights hoped for. He ran his best race to date last time out when following home the Willie Mullins-trained Sysko. If he can back up that run here, he can be in with a chance. However, should the current Ebor favourite
HIPOP DE LOIRE
jump adequately on his second start over hurdles, he will be tough to beat. He was second to Jackfinbar at this meeting last season, and a reproduction of that run will see him into the winner's enclosure.
2024 Winner:
Lightkeeper
J
: Jack Kennedy
T
: Gordon Elliott
Odds
: 11/1
Our Pick:
HIPOP DE LOIRE
Trainer:
Willie Mullins
Jockey:
Paul Townend
Form:
2-
Age:
8
Weight:
11st 12lb
➡️
5:35 Tote Money-back 2nd Every Race Today Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) - 2m6f
Ahead Of The Posse may have been let away lightly with a two-pound raise for his win last time out. That form has taken a boost with the second War Correspondent going on to win on his chase debut at Wexford.
He has a live chance of following up, and the same can be said for Nitty Gritty. He pulled clear with the runner up when winning his maiden at Killarney, and even though this demands a lot more, he is the type may relish the extra distance here. However, recent chase winner
ARCTIC GALE
may be worth taking a chance with back over the smaller obstacles.
He has yet to win in his eighth tries over hurdles, but he was a second in a maiden hurdle on this card last season, with the third going on to win twice since and finish fourth in a Grade 2 hurdle. He gets a first-time tongue strap here, and if that helps with his finishing effort, his confidence will be sky high from his win and looks set for a bold show.
2024 Winner:
Talk In The Park
J
: Darragh O'Keeffe
T
: Ross O'Sullivan
Odds
: 7/1
Our pick: ARCTIC GALE
Trainer:
Emmet Mullins
Jockey:
Donagh Meyler
Form:
469-41
Age:
6
Weight:
11st 11lb
➡️
6:05 Tote #5,000 Guaranteed Jackpot Irish EBF Mares Handicap (4yo+) - 2m½f
Redwood Queen, the mare at the centre of the controversy over whether Philip Byrnes jumped off at the last at Wexford, returns to the track for the first time since that incident. No longer in the care of Charles Byrnes and now in the care of Cian Collins, it will be interesting to see how she will perform. Carried With Love dons the famous green and gold of JP McManus, and there is a sneaky suspicion that she will be able to take a considerable step forward on anything she has shown yet.
Billie Frechette was a good winner over Luker's Tipple at Cork, making it back-to-back wins. Given the ease of her Cork win, a new mark of 117 may well be within reach. The one that can be worth siding with is course and distance winner
ENFRANCHISE
. She has been running to a good level over hurdles for her new trainer and has hit new heights on the flat, as seen when beaten a head in a Group 2 in Germany and just over two lengths in a Cork Group 3.
She gets in here off 123 and, considering her high flat rating, she looks to have wiggle room off that mark. This is a course she runs well, and looks sure to be bang there under Danny Mullins.
2024 Winner:
Champella
J:
Darragh O'Keeffe
T:
Ross O'Sullivan
Odds:
10/1
Our pick: ENFRANCHISE
Trainer:
Willie McCreery
Jockey:
Danny Mullins
Form:
751/9-
Age:
7
Weight:
11st 5lb
➡️
6:40
Grade 3 Tote Galway Plate (4yo+) - 2m6½f
The showpiece event on day three sees a plethora of potential winners lining up in a strong twenty-two-runner field. All eyes will be on Nurburgring as he looks to make history by winning the Galway Plate just twelve months after claiming the Galway Hurdle. He warmed up for this with a win at Killarney, but his jumping leaves a lot to be desired, and he cannot afford any mistakes here.
Handicap debutant and the classy Down Memory Lane could be well in here, and looks to have had this race in mind for him for a long time now. He has a lovely profile, but this trip may just stretch his stamina. Cheltenham winner
JAZZY MATTY
had a low-key end to his season, but he has some strong chase form to call upon from last season. He is a winner over two miles and five furlongs, so this trip should hold no fears.
He's uncomplicated, jumps well, and has that bit of class needed to win a handicap like this. Now that he has been freshened up for this, and now off a seven-pound higher mark than when winning the Johnny Henderson at Cheltenham, Jazzy Matty looks set to be a massive player here under top jockey Harry Cobden. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Adamantly Chosen go well at a price, and handicap debutant and dual Galway Hurdle runner-up Jesse Evans makes his handicap chase debut here.
If he can replicate his hurdles form over the larger obstacles, then he has every right to run well at what are huge odds. Former Grade 1 novice winner Zenta and Buddy One can also go well if they brush up on their jumping.
2024 Winner:
Pinkerton
J:
Donagh Meyler
T:
Noel Meade
Odds:
20/1
Our pick: JAZZY MATTY
Trainer:
Cian Collins
Jockey:
Harry Cobden
Form:
2216P
Age:
6
Weight:
11st 4lb
➡️
7:15 Download The Tote App (Q.R.) Maiden (3yo+) - 1m4f
On the back of setting the pace for Kyprios at Leopardstown in May, Mont St Michel filled the runner-up spot when sent off as the joint favourite for a Killarney maiden. He takes a slight drop in distance here and is one of the leading contenders.
Waterford Flow is exposed, but he was unlucky on his latest start when finishing runner-up after being badly hampered by a faller. He will likely find one or two too good here, but he will run his usual solid race, and looks the safe each-way bet. However, a chance is taken with
GOLDINTHEVALLEYS
.
The Martin Brassil-trained gelding was well fancied in what turned out to be a decent bumper at Punchestown, but was beaten over one hundred lengths. Something was clearly amiss on the day, and he hasn't been seen since. You have to take his fitness on trust, but in a wide open race, he can go well under Derek O'Connor.
2024 Winner:
Shoda
J:
Mr T Hamilton
– T:
Joseph O'Brien
– Odds:
9/2
Our pick: GOLDINTHEVALLEYS
Trainer:
Martin Brassil
Jockey:
Mr Derek O'Connor
Form:
Age:
5
Weight:
11st 12lb
➡️
7:50 Watch Danny's Diary – 15 Years Of Tote Memories Handicap (3yo) - 1m ½f
Scott Key has been running well this season and won in good style on deep ground at Gowran Park in April. He will appreciate every drop of rain that falls and can improve on his never-nearer sixth at the Curragh last time out. Iron Fist made the most of a good opportunity after a luckless run when behind
SUNJET
at the Curragh.
However, that was Dermot Weld's gelding's first run after 253 days on the sidelines, and he is entitled to improve for that outing. He pulled away in the closing stages at the Curragh when besting Mississippi River, and the win smacked of a horse that has a lot more to come, and a nine-pound higher mark may not be enough to stop him from following up here.
2024 Winner:
Monasterboice
J:
Colin Keane
T:
Noel Meade-
Odds:
9/2
Our pick: SUNJET
Trainer:
Dermot Weld
Jockey:
Chris Hayes
Form:
535-1
Age:
3
Weight:
9st 7lb
➡️
8:20 Tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap (3yo+) - 2m½f
Last Ammo is now rated one pound lower than when taking this race in 2023, and warmed up for this, not beaten far fourth. That was a telling sign, and he looks set to be in top form to try to win back his crown. Shoda was a winner on this card last season over shorter distances, but she has to prove that she can handle this kind of stamina test. Drop The Ancor, Light Up The Dark, and course winner Sign From Above are all respected.
However,
FEUD
, who was a winner over hurdles at last years festival, has been a bit underwhelming since his return this season. He was well beaten in a Grade 3 on his return, but showed better signs when a staying on fourth to Lord Erskine at Killarney. He is bred to be a high-level performer on the flat, and with those two runs under his belt, you can expect Feud to take another step forward with first-time cheekpieces called upon.
2024 Winner:
Busselton
J:
Declan McDonogh
T:
Joseph O'Brien
Odds:
8/1
Our pick:
FEUD
Trainer:
Richard O'Brien
Jockey:
Wayne Hassett (3lb)
Form:
33/0-4
Age:
5
Weight:
9st 9lb
➡️
🕔 Galway Festival day three schedule
TIME
RACE
DISTANCE
5:05
Tote #50,000 Guaranteed Placepot Today Maiden Hurdle
2m6f
5:35
Tote Money-back 2
nd
Every Race Today Handicap Hurdle
2m6f
6:05
Tote #5,000 Guaranteed Jackpot Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle
2m½f
6:40
Grade 3 Tote Galway Plate
2m 6½f
7:15
Download The Tote App Maiden
1m4f
7:50
Watch Danny's Diary – 15 Years Of Tote Memories Handicap
1m½f
8:20
Tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap
2m½f
📺 How to watch day three of the Galway Festival
Location:
Ballybrit, Galway, Ireland
Date/Time:
Wednesday, 30th July, 2025. First Race 5:05
TV/Streaming:
RTÉ2 & Racing TV
About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Sun in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Sun, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Sun.
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