Ballybrit Racecourse will once again take centre stage later this month after the preliminary entries for the Tote Galway Plate and Guinness Galway Hurdle were unveiled, offering an early look at the quality expected for the Galway Races Summer Festival. Both Grade 3 handicaps, worth €270,000 each, remain among the highlights of the Irish National Hunt calendar and are set to be run on Wednesday, July 29, and Thursday, July 30, respectively.
Galway Plate 2026 entries.
Both Grade 3 contests carry prize funds of €270,000 and remain among the most sought-after prizes of the Irish National Hunt season. The Tote Galway Plate is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, while the Guinness Galway Hurdle follows on Thursday, July 30, with Ballybrit once again preparing to welcome deep and highly competitive fields.
Last year’s editions were dominated by Gordon Elliott, whose stable landed both major prizes. Western Fold went on to capture the Galway Plate before later developing into a Grade 1 winner, while Ndaawi claimed the Galway Hurdle after a Stewards’ Enquiry.
Elliott has six horses among the 32 preliminary Galway Plate 2026 entries, continuing a remarkable record that has seen him win the race five times in the past decade. Three Card Brag heads his team on official ratings, although recent recruit Nowwhatdoyouthink could prove one of the more intriguing contenders. Formerly trained by Ray Hackett, the talented chaser was placed at Grade 1 level at Punchestown before recording successive Grade 3 victories at Cork and is set to make his first appearance for his new connections.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins has entered eight possible runners, the largest representation in the race. Among them, Funiculi Funicula stands out after placing in a Grade 1 over hurdles before adding a Listed novice chase success during the Punchestown Festival.
Few horses know Ballybrit better than Jesse Evans, and Noel Meade’s durable 10-year-old is in line for a fifth consecutive appearance at the meeting. Runner-up in last year’s Plate, he also finished second in the Galway Hurdle in both 2022 and 2023.
Gavin Cromwell’s Will The Wise arrives with a strong recent profile after winning the Topham Chase at Aintree following his excellent runner-up effort at the Cheltenham Festival. Previous winning form at Galway further strengthens his credentials.
Another horse specifically prepared with this race in mind is Ol Man Dingle, trained by Eoin Griffin. His victory in the Galway Plate Trial at Kilbeggan in June suggested he could take another step forward at the summer festival.
Other notable names include Solness, a multiple Grade 1-winning chaser from the Joseph O’Brien yard, while Yorkshire trainer Patrick Neville has entered stable star The Real Whacker. Charles Byrnes could also be represented by Reverend Hubert, who arrives seeking a third consecutive victory despite not having raced over fences since this meeting last year.
Attention then shifts to the Guinness Galway Hurdle, where Willie Mullins will bid to extend a remarkable record that already includes five victories since 2016.
The champion trainer has entered six runners, featuring several progressive types including Roc Dino and Too Bossy For Us. Elliott has also nominated six horses, headed by defending champion Ndaawi, whose recent winning streak and consistent Ballybrit record make him one of the early horses to watch. The six-year-old also finished runner-up in the race in 2024.
Noel Meade will hope for better fortune with Helvic Dream, who crossed the line first in last year’s renewal before being relegated to second following an enquiry.
Another returning contender is Puturhandstogether, who carried high expectations into the race 12 months ago after his Cheltenham Festival success over hurdles. Since then, he has added the Irish Cesarewitch to his achievements.
A total of 24 horses feature among the early Galway Hurdle entries. Laafi, trained by Bill Durkan, enters calculations after suffering narrow defeats and misfortune in recent major handicaps, while Ragmans Corner, trained by Gerry Keane, brings proven course form following placed efforts at Galway and a recent success at Killarney.
Trainer Tony Martin, a three-time winner of the race since 2014, has nominated recent Bellewstown scorer Putapoundinthejar, while Paul Nolan could return to the contest two decades after his third success with the progressive Sageborough, a dual winner from just five career starts.
With several weeks remaining before final declarations, both feature races have already attracted an impressive blend of established performers and emerging talent, ensuring anticipation continues to build for two of Ireland’s most celebrated National Hunt handicaps.
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