Facebook
twitter
- irishracing.com
- Galway Races
- News
- Galway Races Day 3: Nurburgring Headlines our Lucky 15
Galway Races Day 3: Nurburgring Headlines our Lucky 15
© Healy Racing Photos
The action at the Galway Races is now well and truly up to speed and day three brings with it the famous Galway Plate, the centrepiece of the week-long extravaganza at Ballybrit.
It's an evening card at Galway once more, with racing from 17:05 until 20:20 and the Galway Plate is due to go off at 18:40.
Below is my Lucky15 selection for day three at the iconic Galway Races on Wednesday.
Galway Day 3 Lucky 15 Tips
BoyleSports Betting Offer
17:35 - Arctic Gale
Pearse and Annette Mee's colours are oft-sighted at Galway and the locally-based owners undoubtedly prioritise this meeting like few others.
Arctic Gale was pipped in a 2m5f maiden hurdle here last summer for Emmet Mullins and Donagh Meyler and returns to Ballybrit for a handicap over 2m6f now with a rating of 109.
The trip looks optimal and the forecast decent ground is also in his favour. He sports a first-time tongue-tie and looks primed for this after winning a beginners' chase at Tipperary four weeks ago in cosy fashion.
5.352m. 6f. 20 Declared.
Tote Money-back 2nd Every Race Hcap Hdle of €17,000.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
- Conditions
1st - €10,200.00 2nd - €3,400.00 3rd - €1,700.00 4th - €850.00 5th - €510.00 6th - €340.00 Going - NH - Good. Flat - Yielding. Overcast
Formscan By Donal Murphy- ARCTIC GALE should give a good account of himself in this competitive affair. While yet to win over flights, he registered a first chase success on his most recent outing at Tipperary. With a tongue-strap now deployed, it'll be disappointing if he's not involved towards the business end. Another six runners were successful when last seen, with both Affinity Rock and Nitty Gritty striking at Killarney. The pair start off now in handicap company and it'll come as no surprise if either manage to prevail. Two from two at Ballybrit, El Champo could make an impact at a big price, while others for the shortlist are Spinning Web, Ahead Of The Posse and the returning Dream In The Park.
An extended handicap hurdle for four years old and upwards (110 = 11st 12lbs)
Penalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap shall carry 7lb extra for each hurdle race won.
Odds Shortening 
Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | 3rd | Arctic Gale | 6/1  3/1 | 10/3 |
18 | 2nd | High Court Cave | 9/1 5/1 | 5/1 |
15 | 14th | Affinity Rock | 9/1 13/2 | 7/1 |
3 | 11th | Nitty Gritty | 15/2 11/2 | 7/1 |
21 | 1st | Bal Kauto | 9/2  7/1 | 7/1 |
16 | p.u. | Beggars Rock | 13/2 12/1 | 12/1 |
17 | 13th | Folly Beach | 22/1 14/1 | 16/1 |
11 | 15th | Caesar Rock | 12/1 18/1 | 16/1 |
4 | 9th | Spinning Web | 16/1 | |
7 | 7th | Dream In The Park | 10/1 18/1 | 18/1 |
14 | 8th | Gabriel Ranger | 11/1 18/1 | 18/1 |
10 | 6th | Ahead Of The Posse | 11/1 22/1 | 22/1 |
1 | 5th | Another Choice | 18/1 25/1 | 25/1 |
8 | 16th | Portarlington | 12/1 25/1 | 25/1 |
2 | 4th | El Champo | 28/1 | |
13 | 10th | Coastal World | 33/1 | |
9 | p.u. | Ossifer Hops | 22/1 40/1 | 40/1 |
6 | 12th | Beau Walking | 22/1 50/1 | 50/1 |
19 | p.u. | Roxboro River | 22/1 50/1 | 66/1 |
20 | p.u. | Ceol Draiochta | 80/1 | |
22 | n.r. | Adaliz | 10/1 | |
12 | n.r. | Brilliant Light | 18/1 | |
23 | n.r. | The Little Yank | 25/1 16/1 | 25/1 |
| Betting Percentage | 139% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 5 1/5 | |||
10/3
18:40 - Nurburgring
Not since Ansar won the first of his two Galway Plates for Dermot Weld in 2004 has any horse completed the big-race double at Ballybrit.
Ansar won the Galway Hurdle in 2001 under Paul Carberry and landed this contest in '04 with David Casey up and again in '05 for Denis O'Regan. He was a standing dish at the Galway Races, winning seven times in 11 starts.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Nurburgring looks primed to emulate him now. He motored clear of the field to win the Hurdle off a mark of 139 last summer, winning by a widening seven-lengths.
He took time to find his feet chasing but was a fine fourth behind next-time-out Grade 1 novice winner Caldwell Potter at Cheltenham in March and comes here having opened his account over fences at Killarney (2m1f, yielding-to-soft) recently. In between, he was second in the Ascot Stakes in June on the Flat.
He's rated 7lb higher than he was over timber last summer but JJ Slevin's charge has plenty of scope to defy the handicapper.
6.402m. 6f. 111yds. 22 Declared.
Tote Galway Plate (H'cap S'chase) (Grade 3) of €270,000.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
- Conditions
1st - €162,000.00 2nd - €54,000.00 3rd - €27,000.00 4th - €13,500.00 5th - €8,100.00 6th - €5,400.00 Going - NH - Good. Flat - Yielding. Overcast
Formscan By Donal Murphy- Starting off in handicap company, DOWN MEMORY LANE could prove a class above his rivals. This race has probably been the target for quite some time, with the step-up in trip likely to play to his strengths. The selection is one of seven Gordon Elliott-trained representatives in the line-up, with his Three Card Brag another leading hope. The winner of the Galway Hurdle 12-months ago, it's easy to see why Nurburgring is the current market leader. The versatile five-year-old recently made the breakthrough over fences at Killarney and it'll come as no surprise if he manages to follow-up now. With Derek O'Connor an interesting jockey booking, Anyway warrants the utmost respect, while a case can be made for many others. Mayo National winner Western Fold, Midlands National hero Amirite, high class hurdler Buddy One and the Emmet Mullins-trained Sea Music are a few others for the shortlist in what is a typically competitive renewal of this summer highlight.
An extended handicap steeplechase for four years old and upwards that have run at least four times in steeplechases up to and including 20th July 2025
Penalties - Winner of a steeplechase or steeplechases after calculation of the handicap shall carry any penalty or penalties which may be allotted by the Handicapper.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | p.u. | Nurburgring | 11/2 | |
8 | 16th | Down Memory Lane | 11/2 | |
15 | 9th | Thecompanysergeant | 13/2 | |
13 | u.r. | Anyway | 15/2 | |
3 | 2nd | Jesse Evans | 9/1 | |
7 | 6th | Buddy One | 10/1 | |
4 | 1st | Western Fold | 14/1 | |
21 | p.u. | Olympic Man | 14/1 | |
| 20 | 5th | Sea Music | 16/1 | |
9 | 8th | Three Card Brag | 16/1 | |
12 | 12th | Jazzy Matty | 16/1 | |
14 | fell | Common Practice | 20/1 | |
19 | b.d. | Adamantly Chosen | 20/1 | |
11 | 10th | Ashdale Bob | 25/1 | |
2 | 7th | Zanahiyr | 25/1 | |
5 | 4th | Amirite | 33/1 | |
16 | 11th | Duffle Coat | 40/1 | |
17 | 3rd | Shecouldbeanything | 40/1 | |
| 18 | p.u. | Zenta | 50/1 | |
22 | 15th | Gaelic Arc | 50/1 | |
1 | 14th | Senecia | 50/1 | |
| 10 | 13th | Chemical Energy | 66/1 | |
24 | n.r. | Arctic Fly | 22/1 | |
23 | n.r. | The Goffer | 25/1 | |
25 | n.r. | Watch The Weather | 40/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 138% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 6 1/5 | |||
19:50 - Ja'marr
An extended mile awaits the 10 runners in the Watch Danny's Diary - 15 Years Of Tote Memories Handicap and the David Marnane-trained Ja'marr looks well placed for success in the hands of Luke McAteer.
The Zoustar colt has 10 runs behind him and is a dual winner over the mile trip at Dundalk in the winter, latterly off a mark of 75.
He's been in decent form on turf, with his placed efforts at Leopardstown (1m/1m1f) in June working out nicely, while the drop back to 6½-furlongs at Limerick most recently probably caught him out as he rattled home nicely to finish second to Paddy Twomey's 80-rated No Alibi.
© Healy Racing Photos
This stiffer test back up in trip could be optimal and Ja'marr has a plumb draw from which to obtain a good spot under a rider who tends to judge things well pace-wise when going forward.
7.501m. 123yds. 10 Declared.
Watch Danny's Diary - 15 Years H'cap of €26,000.00 3-y-o
- Formscan
- Race Info
- Conditions
1st - €15,600.00 2nd - €5,200.00 3rd - €2,600.00 4th - €1,300.00 5th - €780.00 6th - €520.00 Going - NH - Good. Flat - Yielding. Overcast
Formscan By Tom Weekes- SUJET readily won a competitive premier handicap on Derby Weekend and might follow up, despite being 9lb higher. By Frankel and from a good family, he returned having been gelded after a 253-day layoff in June and scored in the manner of a progressive and capable type. Iron Fist finished 5.75 lengths behind the selection then and while he met trouble in-running and raced quite keenly at the Curragh, scored subsequently at Killarney and should get involved today. Far From Dandy has met some trouble in-running on his last two starts and he is closely matched with consistent Ja’marr on their Leopardstown clash in June.
An extended handicap for three years old only (100 = 10st)
Penalties - (after calculation of the handicap) A winner shall carry 7lb extra for each race won.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
35 | 4th | Sujet | 5/2 6/4 | 11/10 |
72 | 5th | Far From Dandy | 6/1 | |
23 | 6th | Iron Fist | 7/1 11/2 | 6/1 |
16 | 10th | First Wave | 11/2 9/1 | 8/1 |
| 49 | 3rd | Mathan | 11/2 8/1 | 11/1 |
91 | 7th | Ja'marr | 8/1 11/1 | 12/1 |
| 54 | 1st | Scott Key | 14/1 | |
87 | 2nd | Refreshment | 16/1 | |
108 | 8th | Sunriseontheboyne | 33/1 | |
610 | 9th | Lady O | 33/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 122% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 3 1/5 | |||
20:20 - Sign From Above
He's been a little disappointing in recent runs, but Sign From Above has still been running with credit and a return to Galway could be just the ticket for Peter Fahey's seven-year-old.
The son of Sea The Stars ran twice here in 2023, on successive evenings, finishing a close third over 1m4f and the justifying favouritism 24 hours later over 1m6f as he held off 15 rivals.
Despite a promising maiden hurdle win at Navan the following month, he has largely toiled over timber in five runs since.
He did win last summer at Listowel (2m, good) off a mark of 74 and his two recent runs at the Curragh and Navan hinted he will be suited going up in trip now.
He isn't badly treated off 78 and Ben Coen's partner could find the return to Ballybrit sparks his enthusiasm for the task at hand.
8.202m. 110yds. 18 Declared.
Tote, Never Beaten By SP H'cap of €18,000.00 3-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
- Conditions
1st - €10,800.00 2nd - €3,600.00 3rd - €1,800.00 4th - €900.00 5th - €540.00 6th - €360.00 Going - NH - Good. Flat - Yielding. Overcast
Formscan By Tom Weekes- FEUD is drawn wide in 16 but scored at last year’s festival and ran encouragingly on his most recent run. A dual hurdle-winner last summer, he returned following 339 days off in early-July and while well enough held at Killarney, he nonetheless finished well from off the pace and will is better suited by today’s drier ground. Another of last year’s winners Shoda shaped reasonably well at Ballinrobe recently while stablemate Light Up The Dark is something of a dark horse, having won two bumpers before landing a recent maiden but tries this longer Flat distance for the first time, on handicap debut. Pralognan is just 2lb higher than when winning on the all-weather at Newcastle but seems reasonably exposed. Last Ammo won this race when rated 1lb lower in 2023 and ran well enough at Ballinrobe recently.
An extended handicap for three years old and upwards (80 = 10st)
Penalties - (after calculation of the handicap) A winner shall carry 7lb extra for each race won.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
76 | 2nd | Shoda | 7/1 5/2 | 11/4 |
| 53 | 3rd | Light Up The Dark | 11/2 7/2 | 9/2 |
1416 | 12th | Feud | 8/1 11/2 | 6/1 |
| 911 | 1st | Teed Up | 8/1 11/2 | 13/2 |
17 | 8th | Happy Jacky | 11/2 8/1 | 8/1 |
612 | 6th | Open Secret | 22/1 10/1 | 12/1 |
814 | 7th | Sign From Above | 14/1 | |
39 | 9th | Not Just Any Eagle | 22/1 16/1 | 16/1 |
1819 | 5th | Empress Alma | 12/1 20/1 | 18/1 |
222 | 11th | Jacovec Cavern | 14/1 22/1 | 20/1 |
1013 | 13th | Arch Enemy | 16/1 22/1 | 22/1 |
122 | 16th | Last Ammo | 11/1 22/1 | 22/1 |
214 | 15th | The Truant | 40/1 22/1 | 25/1 |
135 | 18th | Nelson Muntz | 33/1 | |
1123 | 14th | Crassus | 33/1 | |
178 | 4th | Harry's Legacy | 22/1 40/1 | 40/1 |
151 | 17th | Rich Belief | 50/1 | |
| 418 | 10th | Drop The Anchor | 33/1 66/1 | 50/1 |
1917 | n.r. | Pralognan | 15/2 11/1 | 10/1 |
2310 | n.r. | Baltic Bird | 16/1 25/1 | 22/1 |
1615 | n.r. | Pearl Jewel | 28/1 | |
2020 | n.r. | Miss Gitana | 12/1 33/1 | 33/1 |
2221 | n.r. | Dream Escape | 80/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 139% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 5 1/5 | |||
