Get Galway ready with our Tips for Day One Seven days of the Galway Races kicks off this evening with the Connacht Hotel QR Handicap, the traditional feature on the opening day. This fiendishly difficult race is invariably won by a decent horse and the classiest one in the line up this year is probably Lot Of Joy which represents last year’s winning combination of Willie and Patrick Mullins. Willie Mullins runs four in the race this year including the 2017 winner Whiskey Sour, but preference is for Dartan representing the in-form Matthew Smith stable. This ex-German trained gelding won on the flat at the Curragh on Derby weekend before notching up another victory over hurdles at Bellewstown seven days later. Dartan was found to be lame when disappointing at Killarney last week and reverting to the flat here with race specialist Finny Maguire aboard he must have a solid chance. Maguire has ridden two of the last three winners of this contest. Leading online bookmakers bet365 will be enhancing the odds of one runner in each race at Galway this week with their Bet Boost and will also have Special each-way terms for another runner in each race over the seven days. Whatever the fate of the Mullins quartet in the big amateur riders’ race, all eyes will be on his sole representative in the opening race of the festival. Willie Mullins saddles a son of the great Annie Power, Mystical Power, in this Novices Hurdle confined to four-year-olds. Mystical Power landed a bumper on racecourse debut at Ballinrobe at the end of May, but didn’t set the world alight with his performance that day and it will be fascinating to see how he fares on his first try at jumping. Darkened won the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle on this card last year by a nose and is back to defend his crown. He is winless since under all codes, but arrives here back down to the same rating he won off last year and must be a strong contender again. Joseph O’Brien won the two-year-old maiden on this evening’s card twice as a rider, but has yet to train the winner of the contest. That could all change this evening when he saddles the experienced Mythology. This son of Starspangeldbanner has shown ability on all three starts to date, including when fifth in the Group 2 Railway Stakes. From a plum draw in stall 3 and with no issues with the soft going he will be difficult to peg back if allowed to stride on by Dylan Browne McMonagle. A low draw is a significant advantage in the seven furlong handicaps across the week and it would be no surprise to see Mick Mulvany’s Rathbranchurch strike from stall 4 in the Claytonhotelgalway.ie race. The gelding’s last three runs have been over the minimum trip of five furlongs, but he has form over seven furlongs and while he may be running on fumes on the final uphill climb to the line he does have bottom weight and the able assistance of Gary Carroll. Newcomer Arctic Gale is one to watch out for in the betting market for the closing race on day one. This gelding represents the same trainer-owner-jockey combination that were successful in this race 12 months ago with This Songisforyou.
