Mark Boylan's dos and don'ts for betting at the Galway festival

Don't underestimate course form

Previous experience at Galway is a definite plus and that was again exhibited at last year's festival. Of the 55 races run at last year's week-long bonanza 22 went to horses who had previously run at Ballybrit. Excluding the four bumpers and five two-year-old races, that equates to 45.65 per cent. Ten winners in 2018 had previously won at the track, two of whom had got off the mark at the same venue earlier in the week (Truffles and Rovetta). Don't underestimate the benefit of having experience up the famous Galway hill.

Do pay attention to weather forecasts

The ground at Galway can be very changeable and keeping a firm eye on the weather forecast is essential to making the best punting choices at Ballybrit. At each of the last two festivals the ground on the Flat course has gone from yielding at one point, to soft, soft-to-heavy in places. Similarly, the jumps track at one point has been described as good before changing to soft in the space of two or three days. Watch the weather forecast to make your form studying as effective as possible.

Market movers should be watched closely at GalwayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Don't ignore market movers

The Ballybrit faithful love a gamble. It's certainly worth your while keeping an eye on a blue wave rippling across a horse's price on whatever punting platform you're using, with the market a good guide towards forthcoming improvement that may not be the most obvious to identify on paper. Among last year's late movers in the ring who rewarded their supporters were Storm Rising (10-1 from 16), Premier League (5-1 from 8), St Gallen (12-1 from 25), Great Trango (12-1 from 20), Triplicate (7-2 from 11-2) and Castlehume (10-1 from 14). The market is often your friend at Galway.

Do keep in mind trainers' records in races

Trainers are often described as creatures of habit and at Galway it pays to be aware of races which particular stables have strong records in. An obvious example would be the Shearwater Irish EBF Maiden on the penultimate day of the festival (Saturday 3 August). Aidan O'Brien has won this race for the last four years with high-class performers such as Broome and Capri. The Ballydoyle trainer's runners in that race have been well found in the market, but there is still value in following Ger Lyons in the mile three-year-old handicap on the Wednesday, having won three of the last four runnings at 10-1, 7-4 and 7-2.

Rovetta's connections celebrate after the mare won twice at last year's Galway festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Do take note of horses turning out quickly after winning

The aforementioned Truffles and Rovetta made it back-to-back wins in the same week 12 months ago, both scoring off a four-day break, but two others tried and failed. Uradel, who won Monday's Connacht Hotel Qualified Riders' Handicap impressively under Aubrey McMahon, was brought down when a 7-2 shot for the €100,000 Galway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle on the penultimate day of the meeting, while Galway stalwart Camlann ran well in defeat when turned out twice after winning on the Thursday (later disqualified). Honor Oak was second on the Tuesday before bolting up on the Thursday and Sub Lieutenant was fifth in Wednesday's Plate before winning easily on the Sunday. Whiskey Sour was the only successful one of four who tried to double up in 2017, but Dream Walker and Arbre De Vie both managed to win at their second attempt of the week. It can be done.

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