Galway Races gamble sees locally trained horse's odds slashed for big race
The Galway Plate is the feature contest at Ballybrit on Wednesday and BOYLE Sports report that Buddy One is their biggest liability in the race.
The eight-year-old gelding has seen his odds cut to 7/1 (from 25/1) as punters bank on a local winner scooping the €162,000 first prize for trainer, Paul Gilligan.
Gilligan, who is based in Athenry, is no stranger to success at his local meeting, but his stable star landing the Galway Plate would be his biggest career victory to date.
Last year's Galway Hurdle winner Nurburgring is the 9/2 joint-favourite for Joseph O'Brien and Bronsan Racing as he bids to become just the third horse to do the Hurdle/Plate double with the JP McManus-owned Down Memory Lane also catching the eye of the oddsmakers at 9/2 having been as big as 7/1 earlier this week.
Willie Mullins will field three of the 22 strong field, with Adamantly Chosen, the mount of Paul Townend, supported into 16/1 (from 25/1).
Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BOYLE Sports, said: 'It's a typically hot renewal of the Galway Plate and while Nurburgring and Down Memory Lane head the betting, it's a locally trained horse, Buddy One, that would bring tears of joy to the crowd in Ballybrit and tears of sorrow to the bookies.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Thurles racetrack closure only serves to highlight importance of Galway festival
Galway Races rolls over, ever Galway Races year on year, and this year proved the point - again. Whether it's Ireland's most colourful trainer Shark Hanlon or most successful trainer Willie Mullins or any of the just three short of 126,000 people who attended this year talking… Or even those who remain critical of the extension to make it a week-long operation, they are all saying the same thing; it has to stay going. That's especially .after the shock news of Thurles racecourse closing down. The Ballybrit festival still registers as a seven-day wonder on both the Irish social diary and sports calendar, an eclectic mix of style, National Hunt and Flat Racing, and latest 2025, mainly good-weathered, week was an attributable success for lots of types across the industry; there is a lot to like, in these modern times, about 53 races having 33 different winning it was Willie Mullins gained his 10th leading trainer award albeit for only four winners when Gordon Elliott had five and snuck off with both the Plate and The good, all positive, in a week where the fragility of the Irish track industry was summed up by the late-in-the-week bombshell that Thurles Racecourse, established 1732, was closing down with immediate in racing times when there is concern about prestige meetings sucking the life from smaller meetings and prize-money for the last two decades remains the same at smaller meetings when training fees have nearly doubled. Galway is fending off the first challenge with the €270 Plate and €270k Hurdle competitive in the market. There is over €2m prize money available through the week (good) yet there are still close to 50 percent of the Festival's races with less than €20k in the pot (worrying). "I love this Festival," says Shark Hanlon before he sheepishly tacks on an almost two-decade caveat. "It is just I'll tell it anyway, for the last 17 years we'd never left here without a winner and for me, that means an awful lot."But I wasn't to know what was going to happen this week and sure enough we missed out!'The week at Ballybrit is something that resonates, is generational, for the Carlow-based Hanlons, originally cattle dealers before Shark changed the type of livestock to equine."Galway is a place that everyone looks forward to every year and, alright, it might not be the best track in the world."It's very tight and it's up and down but it doesn't matter in the overall week because the crowd, the trainers, the owners, they all love coming here, as with me, that's why I love coming here."Don't ask racing people to talk definitively about any of the days either."Every day has its own character, Monday and Tuesday you have a noticeably older crowd, the local people, Wednesday and Thursday you have two big National Hunt races and you have the racing crowd."And then Friday and Saturday, you have a younger crowd coming in because it's always set for the Bank Holiday weekend."Some people plan about playing a game of golf but a lot of people plan around Galway. "They have their year planned around it, getting travel, accommodation, tickets for the previous or seven months. "Then you have the real, real race crowd on Wednesday and Thursday, they love the two big races the Plate and the Hurdle and some of those like to tag on Friday which has become a very interesting day."Friday probably had the biggest crowd this year (correct, 26,734), the mix of those coming to see the racing but going home afterwards and then you have the younger people that are coming in for the Bank Holiday weekend."Shark has mentioned planning: Willie Mullins tells me the Thursday Hurdle occasions plotting far beyond the industry norm."It's a special day in Irish racing,' notes the Master of Closutton. 'Everyone wants to win all year and there are fellows setting their horse up for two years for this type of a race."So, you know, when you're looking at the form, you have to say who's behind it and where have they been for the last two years? "There are guys for whom this is it, they would rather win a Galway hurdle than Cheltenham, you know. 'Look at people such as Pearse Mee, although he didn't have a runner this year, if he has a runner in the Hurdle watch out.'Well known publican Gary Monroe's place is close to Spanish Arch, it will feed you night and day, and if you're lucky there is an Ado or a Gordon, a Nina, Ted or a Ross there after racing."Galway Arts Festival takes place the two weeks directly preceding the Racing Festival and between them the city of is on the go 18 and 24 hours every day," says an owner closely associated with the Rosabel Rooms charity and who had his horse Talk of the North touched off second last week."The city doesn't get overrun by either the Arts or the horse racing but seems to be able to absorb what are, let's face it, two different crowds."There plenty of guards yet it's never been heavy-handed, plenty of students willing to work very hard for the period and earn some money."The food and drink prices don't escalate - I'd say that is a rare quality but it is part of appreciation that both are good for the city."Not known to many are the beautiful stables beneath Monroes, a legacy from dray horse times and although not used any longer, are still in pristine conditionHis upstairs gig venue/theatre had Richard Thompson, Cry Before Dawn on race week. Sharon Shannon is practically the house musician, upstairs or downstairs. Fun Lovin' Criminals love the place and return again December first race meeting was 155 years back, 1869, and was a two-day event for 90 years before moving to three days in 1959, four in 1971, five in 1974, six in 1982 and, the whole hog, seven days in 1999. "My fascination came from when I was down here with my dad," continues Shark, "my mother and father came down here for years and years, we stayed in the one hotel for the last 30 years. READ MORE: Hewick - on his way to being a movie star? "When I won the Plate (with €800 purchase Hewick in 2022) he was in the ring with me, it was one of the last days he was racing and it was just a proud day for me and for him and we shed a few tears in it."I knew at the time he was getting 'bet' and, in fairness, he stayed for another year, but he hadn't been racing. My father passed away this year but my mother came Wednesday and Thursday."Moreover Shark is not just about the feeding frenzy that comes with a big race week and two very prestigious prize money pots, there is an appreciation for far more than that and god-given lush green scenery."There is very good staff here and that means a lot too. "It's a long hard week for them people coming in there in the morning, walk the track, and then they're around here after dinner, going back and walk the track. 'You're starting at six o'clock in the morning and maybe finish at nine o'clock that night, that's a long week. 'The management here are very good and the bars here, as you can see yourself, you have the Guinness Bar, you have the Champagne Bar which is a new bar they put up a couple of years ago, everyone loves it, even myself!" Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Trainer at centre of awkward TV moment with Gordon Elliott confirms appeal after controversial Galway Races result
He has explained the reason behind the appeal 'WE'LL SEE' Trainer at centre of awkward TV moment with Gordon Elliott confirms appeal after controversial Galway Races result NOEL MEADE has launched an appeal after the controversial race in Galway that led to an awkward TV moment with Gordon Elliott. Initially Meade's runner Helvic Dream had pipped Ndaawi to the post in the Galway Hurdle. 2 Trainer Gordon Elliott, left, and jockey Jack Kennedy after winning the Galway Hurdle Credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile 2 Noel Meade is appealing the result Credit: Thomas Doolin/Sportsfile However, an inquiry was immediately called as the former had seemed to bump the latter towards the inside fence. The review process played out on live TV as Gordon Elliott - who trained Ndaawi - discovered his horse had won while standing right next to Meade. Speaking at Sligo on Wednesday, Meade confirmed he had appealed the result and insisted Jack Kennedy - who was on board Ndaawi - was just as guilty. He said: "We put an appeal in yesterday and it's up on Tuesday, so we'll see what happens. "Despite what everyone seems to think, every video I look at seems to suggest that Jack got every chance to win the race and didn't go through with it as much as anything else. "He was leaning on my lad as much as my lad was leaning on him." Elliott and Meade's post-race interview with RTE made for truly surreal viewing/ Both men trailed off from their chat with Brian Gleeson to gaze up while listening to a voice on the Ballybrit PA system. For all that was at stake though, the two Meath natives conducted themselves very well. Meade offered a congratulatory handshake while Elliott restrained himself from celebrating. Gordon Elliott and Noel Meade in surreal live RTE moment as they react to controversial Galway Hurdle ruling Slightly lost for words, the Cullentra handler admitted: "Ah look, I'm delighted to win the race. "But to be honest, Noel Meade's one of my best friends racing. I know how he's feeling now. "We'll see, Ruby Walsh told me coming in that he thought we'd get the race, Jack [Kennedy] said he guessed. Look, the stewards have a job to do but it's not a nice way to get it." Jockey Kennedy later gave his own reflections on the race's contentious climax. The Kerry ace insisted: "It's not a nice way to get it, but I do feel I'd have won had I not received the interference. "I'm delighted we came out on the right side of it. If Donagh came off of me in the final 100 yards we'd have got going again." Helvic Dream was an 8-1 shot in the hands of Donagh Meyler and settled down to fight it out with the 13-2 shot Ndaawi and Kennedy in the home straight. But the pair did come close together all the way up the run-in as horses and jockeys gave their all, with Ndaawi short of room against the far rail.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
West Ham vs Lille bonus: Get €70 in free bets PLUS special price boost with BOYLE Sports
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the betting offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. FRIENDLY BONUS West Ham vs Lille bonus: Get €70 in free bets PLUS special price boost with BOYLE Sports WEST HAM host Lille on Saturday in their final pre-season game before next weekend's big Premier League kick-off. BOYLE Sports are celebrating by offering brand new customers a whopping €60 in free bets plus an extra €10 casino bonus! Wait, there's more. BOYLE Sports are also offering all punters a special price boost for the big game! Find The Sun's betting publishing principles here How to claim... BOYLE Sports offer Visit the BOYLE Sports website HERE* Register a new account and deposit Place a qualifying bet of €10 or more at odds of Evens or greater Remember, your qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of account opening Once that's settled, you will receive €60 in free bets and a €10 casino bonus BOYLE Sports: Get €60 in free bets and a €10 casino bonus HERE* Not got a BOYLE Sports account? No Problem! Simply visit the BOYLE Sports website and register for your brand new account. Deposit at least a tenner and then place a tenner or more on any football betting market at odds of Evens or greater. Once that's settled, you will receive €60 in free bets and a €10 casino bonus. You will also be eligible for BOYLE Sports' price boost special, offering West Ham to win and BTTS at 4/1 - up from 5/2! BOYLE Sports: Get €60 in free bets and a €10 casino bonus HERE* *18+. IRE/NI new customers only. €/£40 in FREE Bets (FB) as €/£30 in sports bets & a €/£10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept €/£10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable €/£100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won't apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Prices subject to fluctuation and availability. 90 mins. Max 10 stake. T&C's Apply. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland.
