The fourth day feature at the Galway Races is the Galway Hurdle.
Guinness Galway Hurdle Details (Handicap, Grade 3)
For: 4yo+
Distance: 2m½f (2m11y)
Date: Thursday, July 30
Time: 16:30
The Guinness Galway Hurdle is one of the most prestigious handicap hurdles of the Irish racing season and a centrepiece of the Galway Races. Here are the key trends to consider ahead of the 2026 renewal.
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Galway Hurdle trends
- There has been just one winning favourite in the last ten runnings – Clondaw Warrior (9/2) for Willie Mullins in 2016.
- That means there has been no winning favourite in the last nine renewals.
- Willie Mullins has trained five of the last ten winners, while Joseph O’Brien has won the race in 2017 and 2024. Tony Martin landed the prize in 2019 and 2022, both times with Tudor City.
- Horses aged 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 have all won the race during the last ten years.
- Patrick Mullins rode the winner in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
- Six of the last ten winners carried 11st 5lb or more.
- Six of the last ten winners started at 7/1 or shorter.
- Eight of the last ten winners were returned at 12/1 or shorter.
- Just two of the last ten winners had won on their previous start.
- Five of the last ten winners had run on the Flat before Galway, with two of those making their previous appearance at Royal Ascot.
- Eight of the last ten winners had raced 44 days or less before winning the Galway Hurdle.
Selection: Puturhandstogether
Based on the statistics, this year’s winner is likely to be a horse priced at 12/1 or shorter, but not the favourite, one that didn’t necessarily win on its previous start, and one that has raced within the last 44 days.
Murcia, Royal Hollow and Puturhandstogether fit the profile best. However, the last mare to win the Galway Hurdle was Black Queen back in 1998, leaving both Murcia and Royal Hollow with that statistic to overcome.
That leaves Puturhandstogether, who can provide owner JP McManus with another Galway Hurdle success, having previously won with Thomas Edison (2014) & Tigris River (2017). It would also hand Joseph O’Brien a third victory in the race and another triumph in one of the Galway Festival’s flagship contests.
