Galway Races 2020: all you need to know about the week-long festival in Ireland

The Galway festival is one of the longest meetings in the world and sees a mix of Flat and jumps racing across seven days of action-packed excitement.

The festival starts on the last Monday of July every year, with its feature races being the Galway Plate, held on the Wednesday of the meeting, and the Galway Hurdle on the Thursday. Both races have a start time of 6.45pm.

Ladies Day is also traditionally held on the Thursday, but there will be no crowds in attendance this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The betting ring at Galway: will be empty this year with no crowds present at the festivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Galway summer festival starts on Monday, July 27 and finishes on Sunday, August 2.

Racing TV will be showing every race, while RTE will also air some of the action over in Ireland. You can also stream and bet on the racing on the Racing Post website and mobile app. Most betting shops are now open.

Why is the Galway festival so important?

The first racing festival held in Galway took place on Tuesday, August 17, 1869 and last for two days. It was extended to three days in 1959, four days in 1971, five days in 1974, six days in 1982, and finally seven days in 1999.

The festival is the highlight of the year for many local businesses as racing fans and horses alike flock from all over Ireland and Britain to attend the meeting.

In the past the meeting has attracted more than 150,000 racegoers.

Who is running at the 2020 Galway summer festival?

The Galway Plate, a 2m6½f handicap chase, and the two-mile Galway Hurdle the headline acts, esteemed Irish trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are known for having a strong hand in the big races.

Gordon Elliott (left) and Willie Mullins: are expected to have plenty of runners at the Galway festivalCredit: Patrick McCann

In the Plate, Mullins boasts 8-1 chance Easy Game, who was beaten only half a length by Faugheen in the Flogas Novice Chase in February, and was well fancied for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but fell at the last.

Elliott's best hope looks to be Galvin, who has finished in the first two on nine of his 11 completed runs. Another set to line up is 2019 Cheltenham Festival winner Early Doors.

In the Galway Hurdle, the 2018 Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle winner Aramon is a likely contender, while Hunters Call is an interesting proposition for Olly Murphy, with the ten-year-old winning on his first start for two and a half years earlier this month.

Which horses have won at the Galway festival?

Three-time Grade 1 winner Sharjah landed the Galway Hurdle in 2018, before going on to scoop the Morgiana and Ryanair Hurdle later that year.

Sharjah: won the Galway Hurdle in 2018 for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

One of the most popular dual-purpose horses in recent years, Overturn, was victorious in the 2010 Galway Hurdle, supplementing his successes in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and Northumberland Plate the same year.

Balko Des Flos won the 2017 Galway Plate, a win that propelled him to the big time as the gelding went on to land the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the following March.

Who should I back?

The question everybody wants answered!

Firstly, have a look at the entries for the Galway Plate on Wednesday and the Galway Hurdle on Thursday, and check out our free bet offers.

Make sure you keep yourself updated on the Racing Post website, mobile app and newspaper for all our expert betting advice and news in the run-up to the big festival.

Download the free Racing Post app for cards, form, tips, in-app betting and to watch live races. Download for free at racingpost.com/mobile