01-08-2025
Galway Races tips: Follow the Dream team on Friday night at the Festival
5.00 - Jame's Gate Auction Maiden
BELLAMANO can take the opening race for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen on what's sure to be a very busy Friday night's action in Galway.
The Lucky Vega filly has two good efforts to her name at Leopardstown and Killarney and is drawn in stall one, which as we've seen this week is a big advantage over seven furlongs.
Next to her in stall two is Nod Of Approval, who should improve in the JP McManus silks from a decent debut effort at the Curragh.
TIP: BELLAMANO
Each-way: Nod Of Approval
5.30 - Guinness Beginners' Chase
An 18-runner Beginners'' Chase around this tight and undulating track should be fun to watch and the experience of SHANTREUSSE gives him a hesitant vote.
The Henry De Bromhead-trained gelding remains a maiden from eleven chase starts, and may well be exposed, but he has run some good races and was a Grade 3 winner over hurdles back in 2022.
First time blinkers are interesting and he has had a nice break since finishing well down the field in the Topham at Aintree in April.
In truth, anything could win this, but Sandor Clegane is a classy sort with plenty of experience too and will get his head in front one day soon.
TIP: SHANTREUSSE
Each-way: Sandor Clegane
6.00 - Galway Blazers Handicap Chase
One of our favourite races of the week, a contest for horses who missed the cut in Wednesday's Galway Plate and always a fiercely competitive affair.
DIGBY is a reliable little horse who has been in grand form this summer, winning at Ballinrobe over hurdles and at Bangor before running a belter in the Summer Plate at Uttoxeter in late June.
Patrick O'Brien is in great form at the minute, riding a winner here on Wednesday, and if he can get to the front early on he'll take a bit of catching in a wide open race.
Jack Kennedy's decision to ride Mars Harper warrants a second glance. The nine-year-old has plenty of ability and finished fourth in the Festival Plate at Cheltenham in the spring.
TIP: DIGBY
Each-way: Mars Harper
6.35 - Guinness Handicap
You have to go back to the last century for Aidan O'Brien's only winner of this Friday night feature when the brilliant Theatreworld scored in 1998 and 1999 in between finishing runner-up in three Champion Hurdles in succession.
Tonight O'Brien also tries to buck the trend of no three-year-old having won this race since 2001 with his ACAPULCO BAY.
Drawn in stall one, expect Wayne Lordan to bounce out prominently and try to use the son of Dubawi's light weight and strong stamina to good effect.
He has proven to be expensive to follow this summer and has been a beaten favourite in his last three runs but he can atone tonight and prove himself something of a handicap blot.
Soaring Monarch is a fascinating runner. He's a regular here, winning at the 2023 Festival, and was third in this last year and is capable of a big run under top apprentice Nicola Burns.
TIP: ACAPULCO BAY
Each-way: Soaring Monarch
7.10 - Fillies Maiden
Joseph O'Brien has been the scourge of the bookies here a few times here this week and JANNAH STAR should score in this 1m4f contest.
By Sea The Stars, she has been a silver medal winner on her last two starts at Bellewstown and the Curragh since winning bronze on her debut at Limerick.
This looks like a good opportunity to strike gold and get some reward for his consistency.
TIP: JANNAH STAR
Each-way: Ledecky
8.10 - Rockshore Irish Race
The crowd should be getting giddy now and A DREAM TO SHARE can make them even happier with victory here for JP McManus and John and Thomas Kiely.
A former Champion Bumper winner at Cheltenham, he's a very talented horse, who didn't take to hurdling but looked a smart horse for the flat when winning at Leopardstown.
It's a deep race for the grade and prize-money with some dangerous opponents but the suspicion is that connections have had Galway in mind for a long time with this seven-year-old.
Emmet Mullins has had a great week and his Mee family-owned This Songisforyou sets the standard and should be there or thereabouts at the finish too.
TIP: A DREAM TO SHARE (nap)
Each-way: This Songisforyou
8.40 - Hop House Handicap
The lucky last on a long night of racing with REDWOOD QUEEN given the nod to build on an encouraging run over hurdles here on Wednesday.
She's only rated 67 on the flat and came with a threatening run before just getting tired here two days ago. That was her first run since a controversial unseat in May and this looks a race well within her compass for her shrewd young trainer Cian Collins.
Top weight Empress Alma is another who ran well here earlier in the week.
TIP: REDWOOD QUEEN
Each-way: Empress Alma
