Key Contenders for the Connacht Hotel Handicap

The Galway Races will burst into action on Monday evening as the seven-day Ballybrit party gets underway.

The Galway Races remains as one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Irish sporting calendar, a mix of Flat and jumps racing and a lively social scene.

We're taking a look at some of the 43-strong entry list for Monday's Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap over 2m1f on the Flat, with a meaty prize of €64,900 on offer to the winner in a race for Qualified Riders.

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Mullins could lead the charge

Willie Mullins has stoked his interest in the Galway Races in recent times and the champion jumps trainer has a trio of possible contenders here in Charlus Blue Lemons and Too Bossy For Us

Blue Lemons is a dual winner over hurdles but remains lightly raced in this code. The Sullivan Group inmate took in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot last month off a mark of 97 and was well held, but this trip could be much more to his pleasing

Formerly with Kevin Philippart De Foy, Too Bossy For Us could have scope for progress.

The four-year-old son of Golden Horn was seventh in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March on his first run for this stable and was most recently spotted finishing second in a decent 2m handicap at the Curragh during the Irish Derby Festival in June.

O'Brien's San Salvador heads the entries

The Joseph O'Brien-trained San Salvador heads the list of entries and is one of three possibles for the Piltown trainer alongside Dawn Rising and Comfort Zone — the latter pair both owned by JP McManus.

San Salvador has twice previously run at Galway over obstacles but he is now in superb fettle on the Flat.

He only debuted in this code at Killarney (1m6f, good) in May and he duly scored at the Kerry venue before tackling a Listed race at the Curragh over 1m4f and the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f on his next couple of outings.

He got back to winning ways when defying a mark of 99 at Ballinrobe recently and is now a perfect 2-2 under Dylan McMonagle.

Dawn Rising and Comfort Zone are in contrasting form. The latter has been poor of late but Comfort Zone was competitive in a Listed handicap over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival in May and then went down less than a length when third behind Ascending in the aforementioned Ascot Stakes over 2m5f off a rating of 93 last month.

Murphy's Mon Coeur lined up

Joe Murphy likes to target Galway and former festival winner Mon Coeur is amongst the entries for him.

The Fame And Glory gelding has figures of 321 in three previous appearances at the Galway Races.

He won a 1m4f handicap off a mark of 80 in 2023 but missed out last summer. The hold-up performer needs to get back on track to land a blow but his penultimate run at Killarney was eye-catching and he's one that could be worth noting.

Tony Martin could fire the likes of Westminster Moon Zanndabad or Bruant at this target, while Dermot Weld has Grappa Nonino and Gavin Cromwell counts Pinot Gris as a possible contender.