What Next For The Galway Hurdle Runners?

The Galway Hurdle is always one of the most dramatic races of the week at the Galway Festival and it was no exception this year with the stewards overturning the result after a lengthy inquiry. Helvic Dream was first past the post for Noel Meade who was bidding to gain a first win in the race since More Rainbows’ success 20 years ago but after significant interference up the vast majority of the run-in with second past the post, Ndaawi there was always going to be a big chance of a reversal in the stewards’ room.

The result gave Gordon Elliott a first Galway Hurdle win and a remarkable Galway Plate/Hurdle double after Wednesday’s victory for Western Fold and Ndaawi was going one better than last year after chasing home the well handicapped Nurburgring in 2024.

Step back up in trip could do the trick for Tounsivator /h2>

Coming to two out, there was arguably no horse travelling better than Tounsivator and Harry Cobden, who went for a daring run up the rail, had barely moved a muscle on the horse before a bad blunder at the penultimate hurdle cost all momentum.

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However, he recovered well to ping the last and he finished like a horse that would appreciate stepping back up in distance at some point this season, just failing to reel in the third, Casheldale Lad

That was his first run since the end of last season so he could be a horse worth following going forward and while he’s failed to show his best at two previous attempts at 2m4f, Thursday’s effort left the impression that he was ready for a sterner stamina test.

Return to a Flat track could suit Batman Girac /h2>

Not much has gone right for Danny Mullins so far this week and Batman Girac did the rider no favours after a torrid round of jumping. Mullins did well to stay on board after a costly mistake at the third flight and his mount failed to get into any sort of rhythm, making mistakes in the closing stages too.

© Healy Racing Photos

However, he’s looked much more effective on a flat track in his career so far and there’s a chance he will be able to resume progress when he’s returned to a more galloping, conventional track with fewer demands on stamina.

Forgiveness for Royal Hollow /h2>

Another horse that might be worth giving another chance to is the Andrew Slattery-trained Royal Hollow who completely blew the start, losing somewhere in the region of 10 to 15 lengths.

The mare lost any chance of victory at that point and remained in rear throughout most of the race but she did manage to pass a few beaten horses in the closing stages and she remains with potential after her Listed second earlier in the season. Addragoole was another runner that nearly got left at the start and while he didn’t show much in this warm contest, he could be one to follow when he gets his preferred slower conditions down in grade.