A look at the key races on Day 6 of the Galway Races Summer Festival Galway has once again provided racegoers and punters with a wealth of big-priced winners, heart-warming stories and vibrant, colourful racedays featuring Flat and jumps action. It is this potent mix of ingredients that each year leads to high praise for Ballybrit from key racing figures. BoyleSports ambassador Robbie Power believes the staging of both codes gives it ‘an edge over British racing’, while former jockey and TV pundit Jane Mangan labelled it ‘special’ and a festival in which you can lose yourself. BoyleSports are the main sponsors at Galway for Saturday’s action, covering four races and are offering a magnificent €60 in free bets: BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle 2.30 It is certainly easy to feel a bit lost when studying Saturday’s feature race and big betting heat at Galway, a tricky, twenty-runner handicap hurdle over 2m7f. So where to start? When looking down the list of previous winners, the standout statistic is that Willie Mullins has won this contest six times in the last ten years and younger horses have an excellent record in the race. Of the Mullins brigade, preference would be for his five-year-old mare La Prima Donna, with Paul Townend on board. The lightly-raced mare will appreciate the good ground and comes into this full of confidence off the back of an impressive win at Tipperary. She has plenty of experience in these big-field handicaps with a second to talented handicapper Glan in a Grade A Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Glan was seen running a decent fourth in the Galway Hurdle this week. The gallant mare has also run second behind the very well-regarded Dinoblue in the past. It is a step up in trip for her today but this looks an ideal target. BoyleSports Download The App Maiden Hurdle 2.00 Current favourite for this twenty-runner maiden is the Mullins trained Gamin Original, again it’s a race in which Mullins has enjoyed much success, having landed the last two runnings. The pick of Paul Townend, this six-year-old has been off the track for 365 days but was seen travelling well before unseating in this contest last year and he should go well. For place claims keep an eye on Royal Romeo for Noel Meade, this ultra-consistent type has never finished out of the places and was second of 19 in a novice hurdle last time out, that experience is sure to be valuable among a handful of newcomers and the ground will suit. Monitor the betting for vibes around Gordon Elliott’s newcomer Riaan with Davy Russell in the saddle. BoyleSports Casino Irish EBF Maiden 3.05 A juvenile maiden which looks likely to be taken by trainer Aidan O’Brien who has won this in the past. His hot favourite Hiawatha made a pleasing debut when second on debut at Killarney. The two-year-old son of Camelot is a full brother to the very talented Group 1 winner Luxembourg and has an entry in the Group 1 National Stakes, which shows connections hold him in high regard. Joseph O’Brien won this contest last year and his son of Churchill, Agathon, also has an entry in the National Stakes. While Churchill’s progeny haven’t exactly set the world alight, the colt is a relative to the trainer’s Group 2 winner Agarthan and may be the best of the rest. BoyleSports Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race 5.55 Willie Mullins can enjoy another fruitful day at Galway and looks likely to land the bumper on the card over two miles with Carrigmorna Queen who was second in Listed bumper on her debut on deep ground. With better ground and experience, she’s likely to improve. Peter Fahey has enjoyed three winners this week at the festival and Our Girl Sal, who was third in a point-to-point in April, is one to keep an eye on for each-way value.
