One of the summer jumping highlights is the Galway Hurdle and the hugely competitive handicap event is the feature race on day four of the Galway Festival on Thursday afternoon. We preview the 2m 11y contest here and our man Steve Chambers picks out his best bet for the race here…
UNDER CONTROL
(Nico de Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
Highly touted as juvenile, Nicky Henderson’s Under Control was last seen finishing a fine second in a Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster and she shaped like she could be tailor-made for this Galway Hurdle. She will take her chance off a mark of 137 in this event and she’s potentially a lot better than that, but she has been off the track for six months, so will have to produce her best to land this competitive contest.
DADDY LONG LEGS
(Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
A facile five-length winner of a Listed event at Punchestown two starts ago, Daddy Long Legs then produced a really lacklustre performance when sent off an odds-on favourite for the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old will need to bounce back from that effort and off a mark of 150 he faces a tough task. However, he could relish a return to a big field and has to be considered a leading contender for the Closutton team.
NURBURGRING
(J J Slevin/Joseph O’Brien)
Fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Nurburgring then ran a stormer when fourth in the Grade 1 Four-Year-Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Fesitlval. Joseph O’Brien’s raider was seen warming up for this on the Flat at Leopardstown and that outing should’ve blown the cobwebs for this event. The four-year-old is destined to be a huge contender here and off a mark of 139 he has to be one of the main protagonists.
THE FIELD
Henry De Bromhead’s Gorgeous Tom is one of the form horses lining up and he is bidding for a third victory on the bounce and looks hugely progressive, while the Thomas Mullins-trained Fascile Mode is another coming into the event on the back of a win and looks capable of more. Willie Mullins will have an ultra-strong team lining up and while Daddy Long Legs looks the primary shot one that could play a starring role is Anotherway. Making his handicap debut here, he’s another that was seen on the Flat last time out and a mark of 137 looks eye-catching if he can show his best form here. Winter Fog will have the burden of top weight in this event, but comes into the contest on the back of win, while My Mate Mozzie and Risk Belle are another brace of well-fancied runners.
VERDICT
A phenomenally competitive renewal of the Galway Hurdle will take place on Thursday, but it’s set to be the same old story with Willie Mullins claiming a big prize over hurdles. The Closutton inmate will unleash a strong battalion at the race, but the one to side with is ANOTHERWAY, who makes his handicap debut in this contest and looks to have the potential to be much better than his 137 mark. Under Control is a classy performer and she can chase home Anotherway, while at a big price Jesse Evans could finish third place.
2024 Galway Hurdle Predicted 1-2-3
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