Did the Galway Hurdle Winner Just Run In The Grimes Hurdle? The Galway Hurdle is one of the hottest races of the summer jumps programme in Ireland and a contest set to carry a prize pool of €270,000 this year. The Ballybrit contest, set to be run on Thursday, July 31st, will attract a stellar line-up hoping to succeed last year's ultra-impressive winner Nurburgring — who motored clear of the field for trainer Joseph O'Brien and rider JJ Slevin. The race has been utterly dominated by three trainers in recent times. O'Brien was nailing his second win after Tigris River in 2017, while Tony Martin has landed the prize four times since 2014 and Willie Mullins has won five renewals since 2016 — ensuring those three yards are responsible for the last 11 Galway Hurdle heroes. Novibet Betting Offer If you already have a Novibet account, check out more of the best betting sites and online casinos Grimes Hurdle Is A Key Indicator One race that has served as a guide for Galway Hurdle success is the Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary, a Grade 3 contest run in July. Three Grimes Hurdle winners since 2009 have also won the Galway Hurdle. Bahrain Storm won the Ballybrit race in 2009 and bagged the Tipperary contest 12 months later for trainer Pat Flynn, while Rebel Fitz in 2012 for Mick Winters and Aramon in 2020 for Mullins tasted success in the Grimes Hurdle just weeks before enjoying Galway Hurdle glory. Noel Meade saw Jesse Evans score at Tipperary this week under Donagh Meyler — is there a chance we saw the Galway Hurdle winner? Fifth Time Lucky For Jesse Evans? Jesse Evans is a nine-year-old and was recording his fifth hurdles win on his 18th start over timber. He won a beginners' chase at Galway last September and is a veteran of four Galway Hurdles in the past, with figures of 4-2-2-8 in the race. He was second to Tudor City off a mark of 138 in 2022 and runner-up behind Zarak The Brave off 146 a year later, while last year's rating of 150 asked too much as he was eighth behind Nurburgring. He has a mark of 148 currently over timber and the likes of Clondaw Warrior (2016) and Tudor City (2022) have won this race aged nine/ten in recent times. More To Consider From Tipperary Enniskerry chased him home at Tipperary. He may be 11 years old now but the Barry Connell-trained inmate doesn't have major miles on the clock. This was his first run since winning a Leopardstown handicap off a mark of 134 at Christmas and he should be all the sharper for it. The favourite Gaucher helped set the pace for Mullins and Paul Townend but he made one too many mistakes and faded to fourth late on, still the best of the Closutton trio ahead of Winter Fog (fourth) and Batman Girac (eighth) though. The Fred Winter winner Puturhandstogether finished sixth at Tipperary for Joseph O'Brien and owner JP McManus in the hands of Mark Walsh. It was his first run in three months and he did look a bit rusty at times. Given he was placed in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at Aintree after his Cheltenham win — and his trainer's record in the Galway race — he's certainly one to keep tabs on if he gets the nod for the Galway Hurdle where he would bid to become the third four-year-old winner on the trot after Zarak The Brave and Nurburgring.
