The entries for the early closing races for this year’s Galway festival were made public on Friday, July 18th. The early closing races are the Topaz Mile Handicap [Tuesday July 29th], thetote.com Galway Plate [Wednesday July 30th], The Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap [Thursday July 31st], The Guinness Handicap [Friday August 1st ] and the Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Ahonoora’ Handicap’ [Sunday August 3rd].

The feature race of the week, the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle has attracted 51 entries and Willie Mullins has his eyes fixed on the lucrative €250,000 prize fund, as he bids to win the race for the first time with Royal Ascot winner Pique Sous, his only entry in the race.

Gordon Elliott is strongly represented in terms of quality and quantity in the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle, with the Longwood-based trainer entering Bayan, Cape Glory, Quarton, Midnight Game and Takeyourcapoff.

Tony Martin, who enjoyed a fantastic Galway Festival last season has given entries to Quick Jack and Thomas Edison, and Dermot Weld could be doubly represented with Diplomat and Hisaabaat. Aidan O’Brien has also entered Plinth and the four-year-old would be likely to lead the six strong J.P Mc Manus-owned assault on the race.

There are 16 English-trained horses entered in the Guinness Galway Handicap Hurdle with Mountbazon, Gassin Golf and Pearl Castle being of major interest.

As expected, Gordon Elliott’s Cause Of Causes, Bless The Wings, Raajih and Plan A all received entries in the €200,000 tote.com Galway Plate.

J.P Mc Manus is responsible for 14 of the 59 entries in the race, with Kid Cassidy, now trained by Christy Roche, Shot From The Hip, Jacksonslady, Quantitativeeasing and Competitive Edge standing out at this early stage.

Gigginstown House Stud have entered six horses with Noel Meade’s Road To Riches, and Gordon Elliott’s Shrapnel who has already won a Grade 3 novice chase around Ballybrit, being of interest.

Meanwhile, the tote.com Galway Plate raiding party is made up by Caid Du Berlais, Creevytennant, Grandad’s Horse, It’s A Gimme, Kie, Minella For Value and Pantxoa.

Dermot Weld has entered Defining Year, Calibrate, and recent Killarney festival winner Stay De Night in the €115,000 Topaz Mile while Jim Bolger could roll the dice with Alpinist, Chance To Dance, Fiscal Focus, Intensical, Paene Magnus, Tobann and Wexford Opera.

Dermot Weld is solely represented by Show Court, owned by his son Kris, in the Guinness Handicap on Friday evening while Jim Bolger’s News At Six may attempt to land his fourth consecutive victory in the race.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Ahonoora’ Handicap has attracted 39 entries with many horses holding multiple entries throughout the week. Great White Eagle, who was a high class two-year-old for Aidan O’Brien, is a fascinating entrant for the Ballydoyle stable, while any one of Dermot Weld’s Sparkle Factor, Sailors Swan, Alkasser, Northern Rocked and Stay De Night would command respect if lining out in the race.

“We couldn’t be happier with the entries for all of the early closing races,” the Galway racecourse manager John Moloney said on Friday.

“Throughout the past few years we have seen a spike in the quality of racing on offer, and judging by this year’s entries, that looks set to continue. We are really looking forward to another great week of top-class racing action,” he concluded.

Throughout the week-long Galway festival, there will be over €1.6m in race sponsorship spread across 52 races.