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- Galway Races Day One: Our Expert Lucky 15 Picks
Galway Races Day One: Our Expert Lucky 15 Picks
© Healy Racing Photos
The Galway Races is ready to burst into action on Monday evening as Ballybrit gears up for a week-long festival of action on the Flat and over jumps.
It's a mixed card to start, with two races over hurdles setting the tone before four on the Flat and a bumper to round things off.
They race at Galway on Monday evening from 17:10-20:20 and our expert has picked out a Lucky 15 worth considering for the day one action at the Galway Races.
Galway Races Day One Lucky 15
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17:40 - Rakki
Willie Mullins has been top trainer at this meeting nine years in a row and the Closutton chief is now very much the Galway master, having previously shunned the meeting to a degree.
He saddles stable debutant RAKKI in the Iggy Daly Easyfix Handicap Hurdle over the extended two miles and the son of Sea The Stars is fancied to shed his maiden tag.
He ran some good races both on the Flat and over hurdles in Britain previously and an opening mark of 105 may well underestimate him in a field that lacks depth.
His ownership group have a superb Galway record, owing much to their star Clondaw Warrior, and could be set for more Ballybrit joy.
5.402m. 130yds. 20 Declared.
Iggy Daly Easyfix H'cap H'dle of €17,500.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
- Conditions
1st - €10,500.00 2nd - €3,500.00 3rd - €1,750.00 4th - €875.00 5th - €525.00 6th - €350.00 Going - Good (NH), Yielding (Flat). Partly Cloudy
Formscan By John O'Riordan- A lightly raced four-year-old, RAKKI catches the eye on stable debut for Willie Mullins. Although yet to get his head in front, the Sea The Stars gelding could prove to be well treated relative to his mark on the Flat. While his lack of handicap experience is an obvious worry in a field this size, it might be worth taking a chance on him making a winning Irish debut. Runner-up in the corresponding race last year, Clonbury Bridge is sure to have been laid out for a repeat bid. A winner over fences at Fairyhouse in January, the nine-year-old is rated 7lb lower in this sphere. Wajaaha is another with solid recent placed form at this venue.
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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
20 | 3rd | Rakki | 7/4  5/2 | 3/1 |
6 | 2nd | Prove Yourself | 7/2 5/1 | 9/2 |
1 | 8th | Tell Us This | 11/2 7/1 | 6/1 |
13 | 1st | Jerrari | 10/1 14/1 | 10/1 |
11 | 4th | Paul Collins | 10/1  15/2 | 11/1 |
22 | 14th | Navy Guitar | 12/1 | |
4 | 6th | Son Of Hypnos | 6/1 12/1 | 14/1 |
3 | 12th | Leave In Secret | 22/1 12/1 | 16/1 |
10 | 13th | Malbas | 20/1 14/1 | 16/1 |
15 | 10th | Ballyearl | 33/1 12/1 | 16/1 |
16 | 17th | Clonbury Bridge | 10/1 18/1 | 18/1 |
9 | 7th | Half A Chance | 20/1 | |
19 | p.u. | Wajaaha | 20/1 | |
2 | 5th | Metamorpheus | 50/1 20/1 | 22/1 |
8 | 11th | Ciao Adios | 33/1 | |
5 | 15th | Must Meet Cecil | 33/1 | |
14 | 18th | Space Warrior | 40/1 | |
12 | 16th | Colvin | 66/1 33/1 | 40/1 |
17 | 9th | Eyeeye | 50/1 | |
7 | p.u. | River Tara | 50/1 | |
18 | n.r. | Lygon Lad | 25/1 | |
23 | n.r. | Pahlavi | 50/1 25/1 | 25/1 |
21 | n.r. | Leah's Contessa | 25/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 141% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 5 1/5 | |||
3/1
18:40 - Familiar Dreams
Gordon Elliott has plenty of chances on day one and FAMILIAR DREAMS could be the best of them for the Cullentra chief.
The Postponed mare is a winner of four bumpers from her time with Anthony McCann, while she landed a 2m Tramore maiden on the Flat for this handler last summer.
She won two hurdles win in the spring, including a Grade 3 at Limerick and ran well in top company at Aintree and Punchestown.
Back from a short break, she turns her attention to handicaps on the Flat off a mark of 93 with Josh Williamson taking a valuable 7lb off in the saddle.
6.402m. 179yds. 20 Declared.
Connacht Hotel (QR) H'cap of €110,000.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
- Conditions
1st - €66,000.00 2nd - €22,000.00 3rd - €11,000.00 4th - €5,500.00 5th - €3,300.00 6th - €2,200.00 Going - Good (NH), Yielding (Flat). Partly Cloudy
Formscan By John O'Riordan- A winner at the corresponding meeting last year, the Emmet Mullins-trained TOLL STONE looks to have been laid out for this race. Owned by the Mee family, the five-year-old ran a nice trial when fifth in a fiercely competitive handicap hurdle at Bellewstown earlier this month. Connections have resisted the temptation to ruin his mark on the Flat and, John Gleeson is a very significant booking in a race of this nature. Runner-up at the Curragh on his return to the level recently, the Willie Mullins-trained Too Bossy For Us is sure to be a major contender. Graded bumper and hurdle winner Familiar Dreams and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Comfort Zone are others with leading claims.
An extended handicap for four years old and upwards rated 70-100 that have run three or more times under any Rules of Racing up to and including 21st July, 2025, at least one of those runs having been over a distance of eleven furlongs or more on or after 1st June, 2024
Penalties - (after calculation of the handicap) A winner shall carry 7lb extra for each race won.
Riders - Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules. Riders will receive allowances under Rule 52. Top weight after the time of declaration shall not be less than 12st 2lb and the minimum weight is 10st 7lb.This race WILL be started from stalls. Closing Date: 16th July 2025
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
920 | 12th | Too Bossy For Us | 7/2 | |
67 | 17th | Comfort Zone | 7/1 4/1 | 9/2 |
1416 | 11th | Toll Stone | 8/1 7/2 | 5/1 |
| 173 | 1st | Filey Bay | 12/1 18/1 | 8/1 |
181 | 2nd | Mon Coeur | 25/1 9/1 | 11/1 |
1222 | 16th | Royal Hollow | 12/1 | |
75 | 7th | Familiar Dreams | 8/1 22/1 | 14/1 |
26 | 18th | War Rooms | 15/2 11/1 | 14/1 |
1911 | 3rd | Ragmans Corner | 18/1 | |
1317 | 8th | Zoffman | 20/1 14/1 | 18/1 |
1110 | 6th | Plontier | 20/1 | |
818 | 19th | Westminster Moon | 9/1 22/1 | 20/1 |
34 | 4th | Dawn Rising | 14/1 20/1 | 20/1 |
413 | 10th | Falcon Eight | 25/1 | |
159 | 15th | Weston | 28/1 | |
108 | 20th | Riviera Queen | 9/1 22/1 | 28/1 |
12 | 14th | Fairbanks | 40/1 | |
1619 | 13th | God Of Thunder | 40/1 | |
| 515 | 9th | The Shunter | 25/1 50/1 | 66/1 |
| 2014 | 5th | Wahraan | 100/1 | |
2212 | n.r. | Happy Jacky | 18/1 11/1 | 12/1 |
2321 | n.r. | Jacovec Cavern | 40/1 22/1 | 22/1 |
2123 | n.r. | Not Just Any Eagle | 40/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 140% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 5 1/5 | |||
19:15 - Honeysuckle Rose
© Healy Racing Photos
Joseph O'Brien 's Galway record is impressive and the Piltown trainer saddles possible improver HONEYSUCKLE ROSE in the Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap over 7f.
The Bated Breath filly won her maiden on the Polytrack at Dundalk over this trip in December and has just two runs since.
She was third on her handicap bow over 7f (soft) at Gowran Park in June and did best of those held up in a race where the front pair were always prominent.
Dylan McMonagle 's partner is eased 1lb by the handicapper now and could have plenty more to offer over his stiff test.
7.157f. 15 Declared.
Clayton Hotel Galway H'cap of €18,000.00 3-y-o
- 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 - Good (NH), Yielding (Flat). Partly Cloudy
Formscan By Tom Weekes- AVIATRICE met significant trouble in-running on a recent outing but can engineer her own luck today, racing from the inside stall. Useful on the all-weather at Dundalk last winter, she was beaten by a stablemate on her first start in 204 days at Limerick in June and then ran a notable race at Leopardstown. Often held up in her races, she could prove hard to beat if she races more prominently from stall 1 today, as she appears nicely handicapped. Highbury See See is drawn beside her and while 9lb higher than when scoring on soft ground at Gowran, should also compete. In-form pair Oiche Rua and first reserve Spanish Temptress are closely matched on two recent runs.
An extended handicap for three years old only (80 = 10st)
Penalties - (after calculation of the handicap) A winner shall carry 7lb extra for each race won.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | 7th | Aviatrice | 7/1 3/1 | 7/2 |
102 | 3rd | Highbury See See | 5/1 7/2 | 4/1 |
46 | 12th | Honeysuckle Rose | 15/2 5/1 | 9/2 |
715 | 2nd | Nyman | 14/1 13/2 | 10/1 |
153 | 11th | Oiche Rua | 9/1 12/1 | 10/1 |
516 | 1st | It'sneverjustone | 7/1 12/1 | 11/1 |
124 | 5th | Fiona MacCoul | 33/1 10/1 | 12/1 |
1411 | 9th | Bishopton | 25/1 12/1 | 12/1 |
117 | 10th | Wizard Of Odds | 16/1 | |
818 | 6th | Sun Soldier | 9/1 14/1 | 16/1 |
97 | 15th | Green Icon | 11/1 18/1 | 20/1 |
1114 | 8th | Sir Jeremy | 25/1 | |
| 135 | 4th | Gangsta Man | 9/1 33/1 | 28/1 |
310 | 13th | Gloriously Glam | 16/1 40/1 | 50/1 |
612 | 14th | Ze Do Asfalto | 50/1 | |
1613 | n.r. | Spanish Temptress | 5/1 7/2 | 7/2 |
188 | n.r. | Night Magic | 11/1 15/2 | 15/2 |
179 | n.r. | Mother Mara | 14/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 130% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 4 1/5 | |||
20:20 - Faith Of Empires
The concluding bumper could be dominated by newcomers and one of note could be FAITH OF EMPIRES for Emmet Mullins with John Gleeson in the plate.
The Authorized gelding €38,000 and runs in the colours of Pearse and Annette Mee, natives of Galway who thrive on seeing their contenders go well at this track more than anywhere and particularly at this meeting.
8.202m. 130yds. 19 Declared.
Monami Construction INH Flat Race of €17,000.00 4-y-o
- 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 - Good (NH), Yielding (Flat). Partly Cloudy
Formscan By Tom Weekes- Newcomers are likely to play a big part here with FAITH OF EMPIRES the pick, as connections very much target this festival. Purchased for E38,000 as a three-year-old, his Turkish-bred dam is related to Flat winners and he is by the same sire as Grand National-winners Tiger Roll and I Am Maxumus’ stallion. Coutach ran well on his debut at the Punchestown festival and should figure while Maskarvel also has proven form and while he contested a useful Killarney bumper recently, is vulnerable to smart types. I'm A Rocket Man has just 1.25 lengths to find with Maskarvel on Punchestown form while debutante Gomez Addams is a half-brother to three capable winners and his yard had a good recent bumper winner. Theabsolutegov’nor is a half-brother to two winners.
An I.N.H. flat race for four years old only that have not won a race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing
Weights - 11st 10lbs Fillies allowed 7lbs
Riders - Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 9th | Coutach | 11/8 11/4 | 11/4 |
8 | 14th | I'm A Rocket Man | 12/1 7/2 | 7/2 |
| 5 | 16th | Faith Of Empires | 11/4 7/2 | 7/2 |
6 | 1st | Gomez Addams | 6/1 4/1 | 9/2 |
| 10 | 2nd | Maskarvel | 6/1 10/1 | 10/1 |
9 | 5th | Lupin Du Chenet | 33/1 10/1 | 14/1 |
21 | 3rd | Saint Clovis | 6/1 18/1 | 16/1 |
16 | 8th | Theabsolutegov'nor | 16/1 22/1 | 22/1 |
20 | 11th | That's So True | 11/1 33/1 | 33/1 |
13 | 10th | No Cure | 20/1 33/1 | 33/1 |
14 | 4th | Papanell | 14/1 33/1 | 33/1 |
1 | 15th | Call Tadgh | 150/1 33/1 | 40/1 |
11 | 13th | Maxicourt | 66/1 | |
7 | 7th | Highlander Addict | 66/1 | |
19 | 6th | Super Freak | 66/1 | |
17 | 12th | Frontier Rose | 80/1 | |
2 | 18th | Cornaroya Rocco | 150/1 40/1 | 100/1 |
4 | p.u. | Dreamersgame | 150/1 50/1 | 125/1 |
18 | 17th | Sugar In My Tea | 300/1 | |
15 | n.r. | Sir Vinny | 14/1 22/1 | 25/1 |
22 | n.r. | Figero | 33/1 | |
23 | n.r. | Zam Bobbler | 100/1 33/1 | 40/1 |
12 | n.r. | Moulane Fortune | 66/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 134% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 3 1/5 | |||
