The Galway meeting featured an eight-race programme, with the Deacy Gilligan Hurdle at 5:09pm set to provide the highest prize fund of the day. The €18,000 contest will be run over 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 129 yards and will attract a field of eight declared runners.
The opening race will be the Kenny Developments Maiden Hurdle at 4:07pm. It will be run over 2 miles and 160 yards and will carry €12,000 in prize money. A maximum of 20 runners will be permitted, with the winner due to receive €7,200.
The Anglo Printers Handicap Hurdle will follow at 4:38pm over the same distance. It will also carry €12,000 and will have a maximum field size of 20. The race will provide a handicap test before the card moves into its feature contest.
The Deacy Gilligan Hurdle will take centre stage at 5:09pm, with €18,000 available across the placings. The race will be worth €10,800 to the winner and will provide a longer hurdle examination than the first two contests on the programme.
The company will arrive as one of the leading-rated runners, carrying a rating of 133. C. Stone-Walsh will take the ride for trainer Gavin Cromwell, and the horse will carry 11st 6lb.
Blood Destiny will also line up with P. Townend booked to ride for W.P. Mullins. The French-bred runner will carry 11st and will bring a rating of 138 to the contest.Buddy One will have the highest rating in the field at 142. D.J. Gilligan will ride for trainer Paul John Gilligan, with the horse set to carry 11st.French Dynamite will bring a rating of 140 into the race and will also carry 11st. D.J. O’Keeffe will take the ride for trainer E. McNamara.
Grann’s Boy will carry 11st and will have a rating of 136. S.W. Flanagan will partner the horse for trainer H. Rogers.
Milan Forth will also carry 11st, with K.C. Sexton booked to ride for trainer Simon Cavanagh. The declared details will not list a rating for the runner.Samui will be another 11st runner and will have a rating of 131. K. Healy will take the ride for Gordon Elliott.Paul’s Dream will carry 10st 7lb, giving the runner the lightest weight in the field. A. O’Sullivan will ride for trainer Anthony Mullins, while the horse will have a rating of 129.
The field will therefore include runners rated from 129 to 142, with Buddy One, French Dynamite and Blood Destiny occupying the top end of the ratings. The distance will also provide a substantial test of stamina, particularly as the race will extend beyond the standard two-mile hurdle trip.
After the feature hurdle, the meeting will continue with the first division of the WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle at 5:41pm. The race will cover 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 97 yards and will be restricted to runners rated 0-100. It will carry €10,000 and will allow up to 20 runners.
Division Two will follow at 6:11pm, with the same distance, rating band, prize fund and maximum field size. The two divisions will provide separate opportunities for runners competing within the same handicap range.
The sixth race will be the Beginners Steeplechase at 6:41pm. It will carry €13,000 and will be contested over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 54 yards, with a maximum of 18 runners. The race will give less-experienced chasers another opportunity to develop their jumping experience.
At 7:11pm, the seventh race will be a €15,000 handicap steeplechase over 2 miles, 6 furlongs and 111 yards. Up to 20 runners will be permitted, and the longer distance will place further emphasis on stamina and jumping consistency.
The meeting will conclude at 7:41pm with the Kenny Developments Irish EBF Mares Flat Race. The €12,000 contest will cover 2 miles and 160 yards and will have a maximum field size of 20. It will also form part of the Weatherbys Ireland/I.T.B.A. N.H. Fillies Bonus Scheme in association with The Irish Field.
The Galway 7 September 2026 card featured eight races, with the €18,000 Deacy Gilligan Hurdle at 5:09pm providing the day’s highest-value contest and an eight-runner field headed by Buddy One on ratings.
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