Galway Races Betting, Odds, Free Tips with Previews and Predictions

This year will see the 154th iteration of the iconic Galway Races, featuring a staggering 53 races over seven days. The festival starts on the final Monday in July and will run from the 31st to the 6th of August. Galway Races betting has already gotten underway in earnest, with the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle (which are National Hunt Steeplechases) especially popular among punters. In this Galway Races betting guide, I’ll take a closer look at these races while offering some bespoke betting tips for this marathon horse racing festival.

💯 Galway Races Betting Odds

Galway Races betting in 2023 is starting to gather momentum, with Boyle Sports and William Hill among the first sportsbooks featured in Betinireland’s bookmaker reviews to publish their ante post odds for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle. So, let’s take a more detailed look at the very latest Galway Races 2023 odds, drawing real-time data from six of the best betting sites in the marketplace.

🏆 Galway Plate Odds

I’ll start with the Tote Galway Plate, which this year will take place on Wednesday, August 2nd (with the runners coming under starters’ orders at 18:40 GMT). This historic race was inaugurated way back in 1869, while the 2023 iteration will see defending champion Hewick look to repeat his success at the Ballybrit Racecourse. Here’s the very latest Galway Races betting odds in relation to this particular event!

Sportsbook
Kilcruit	TBC	TBC	TBC	8.00	TBC	8.00
Hollow Games	TBC	TBC	TBC	11.00	TBC	9.00
Fury Road	TBC	TBC	TBC	11.00	TBC	8.00
The Goffer	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	11.00
Lifetime Ambition	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	13.00
Final Orders	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	15.00
Gabbys Cross	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	15.00
Ash Tree Meadow	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	12.00
Easy Game	TBC	TBC	TBC	11.00	TBC	13.00
Enniskerry	TBC	TBC	TBC	9.00	TBC	15.00
Hewick	TBC	TBC	TBC	11.00	TBC	11.00
Gevrey	TBC	TBC	TBC	17.00	TBC	15.00
Ciel De Neige	TBC	TBC	TBC	17.00	TBC	15.00
Andy Dufresne	TBC	TBC	TBC	21.00	TBC	17.00
Born By The Sea	TBC	TBC	TBC	21.00	TBC	26.00

• www.begambleaware.org

🏆 Galway Hurdle Odds

The Guinness Galway Hurdle is the highlight of ‘Ladies Day’ at Galway Races, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 3rd in 2023. The runners will arrive under starters’ orders at 17:05, while Galway Races betting today has established a clear ante post favourite in the form of Emmet Mullins seven-year-old gelding Filey Bay. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the real-time odds for this race.

Sportsbook
Filey Bay	TBC	TBC	TBC	9.00	TBC	8.00
Zarak The Brave	TBC	TBC	TBC	11.00	TBC	11.00
Tekao	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	8.00
Sharjah	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	9.00
Brazil	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	13.00
Bialystok	TBC	TBC	TBC	9.00	TBC	13.00
My Mate Mozzie	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	13.00
Glan	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	17.00
Father Of Jazz	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	15.00
Fils Doudairies	TBC	TBC	TBC	17.00	TBC	17.00
Magic Tricks	TBC	TBC	TBC	21.00	TBC	15.00
Shecouldbeanything	TBC	TBC	TBC	15.00	TBC	21.00
Captain Conby	TBC	TBC	TBC	21.00	TBC	21.00
Horantzau Dairy	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	21.00
Jesse Evans	TBC	TBC	TBC	13.00	TBC	21.00

• www.begambleaware.org

🔮 Galway Festival 2023 Predictions

⚡ The Best Betting Sites for the Galway Races

Now that I’ve reviewed the Galway Races runners and ante post odds for the Plate and the Hurdle, it’s time to consider which operators offer the best value prices and most competitive range of promotions. So, here’s my take on the best Galway Races betting sites and what sets them apart from their rivals.

1️⃣ BoyleSports

I’ll start with BoyleSports, which is arguably Ireland’s largest and most beloved sportsbook and one that offers the most expansive range of Galway Races betting markets.

It was certainly the first to publish ante post odds for the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle, while you’re sure to access the best value prices at BoyleSports. This is because the site runs its ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ promotion every single day, while you can also access ‘Extra Place Races’ when betting each way on high profile and competitive races at Galway and increase your chances of recouping some of your stake.

The BoyleSports welcome offer also comprises a €50 free bet, which is available when you deposit €10 or more and stake this amount at odds of 2.00 (evens) or greater. Once added to your account, you’ll have seven days to utilise the free bet offer.

• www.begambleaware.org

2️⃣ Betway

Next up is Betway, which is home to more than 30,000 betting markets in total and offers extensive coverage of the Galway Races.

It’s particularly well known for its range of in-play betting markets, which the operator has combined with live streaming and flexible cash out offers to create the ultimate live wagering experience. Betway also operates a ‘Free Bet Club’ for frequent bettors, who can bank a weekly €10 free bet when they wager €25 or more between the previous Saturday and Friday.

Betway is also home to one of the best Galway Races free bet offers on the market, which delivers a 100% first deposit match up to the value of €30. Just stake between €5 and €30 at minimum odds of 1.75 and a free bet of the equivalent value will be immediately added to your account.

• www.begambleaware.org

3️⃣ LeoVegas

While LeoVegas arguably remains best known as a continental casino brand, it has continued to gain traction and credibility as one of Ireland’s most popular sports betting brands.

To this end, the site now offers horse racing as one of 35 sports categories to customers, while the LeoVegas ‘Live Club’ is one of its most popular features among loyal punters. This is an ongoing rewards program that delivers up to 12 free bets and multiple profit boosts per week depending on your stake amounts, many of which can be deployed on horse racing and Galway betting.

LeoVegas also offers one of the most generous Galway Races betting offers around, with this comprising a 100% profit boost up to the value of €400. You can qualify with an initial stake of €10, so long as you bet at odds of 2.00 or higher.

• www.begambleaware.org

4️⃣ William Hill

Like Boyle Sports, William Hill is another high street and online behemoth in Ireland, and one that also combines the best value ante post prices with a large selection of Galway betting markets.

William Hill also offers a generous ‘Pick Your Places’ promotion, which is available across all UK and Irish races (including Galway) and can increase your chances of winning when engaging in each way betting. The site runs a bespoke #YourOdds promotion too, which can introduce price boosts and help you to unlock additional value.

As a new William Hill customer, you can also access a €30 free bet bonus when you initially deposit and stake €10. Your qualifying wager must be placed on odds of 1.50 or greater, at which point three separate €10 free bets will be added to your account.

• www.begambleaware.org

5️⃣ Ladbrokes

All Galway Races previews of this type are likely to reference Ladbrokes, which features everything from guaranteed odds across a broad selection of sites to extensive live streaming.

Interestingly, Ladbrokes also boasts an extremely detailed and comprehensive blog resource, which is known for offering expert betting tips and insights ahead of events such as the Galway Races. The site offers up to four lucrative price boost offers every single day too, with three of these exclusive to UK and Irish horse racing.

What’s more, you can access the €20 Ladbrokes welcome offer with a minimum deposit and wager of just €5. Just make sure that the qualifying wager is staked at minimum odds of 1.50, at which point you’ll receive four separate free bets worth €5 each with a lifespan of seven days.

• www.begambleaware.org

6️⃣ Unibet

Last, but by no means least, we come to Unibet, which is another market leading name in Ireland and Europe. Make no mistake; Unibet is arguably the best operator from the perspective of live streaming, with the site set to broadcast both the Galway Plate and Hurdle this year.

Overall, Unibet streams in excess of 40,000 sporting events in real-time every single year, while it combines this with competitive in-play odds and a number of live betting promotions.

I’m also a huge fan of Unibet’s welcome offer, which enables you to place a qualifying wager of up to €40 and receive your stake back if this bet proves to be unsuccessful. Just be sure to bet the minimum amount of €10 at odds of 1.40 or greater to guarantee eligibility.

• www.begambleaware.org

✔️ Galway Races Betting Tips

While the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle always dominate at Ballybrit, there are more than 50 races set to be contested at the venue over the course of the summer 2023 festival. Regardless of which races you intend to wager on, however, it’s important that you develop an understanding of the course and build a viable betting strategy. So, here are a few Galway Races tips to keep in mind this year.

Review Trainer and Jockey Form

Each UK and Ireland racecourse is unique, with left and right-handed tracks posing different challenges to runners and riders alike. So, it’s worth seeing which jockeys and trainers fare the best at Ballybrit, which is a sharp right-handed track that boasts a steep incline to the finish. Over the course of the last five years, Willie Mullins trained has 46 winners and recorded 116 placed finishers at Galway, while jockey Paul Townsend has ridden 106 runners during the same time and placed a staggering 58% of the time. Interestingly, Townsend often has the pick of Mullins’ horses too, which could afford current Galway Plate favourite Kilcruit a competitive advantage over his rivals if they choose to team up again.

Plan and Manage Your Bankroll Carefully

With 53 races scheduled as part of the seven-day Galway festival in 2023, there’s the opportunity to stake huge amounts of cash on a number of potential outcomes at Ballybrit. This is why careful and disciplined bankroll management is so important, as this enables you to bet freely and responsibly without ever wagering more than you can afford to lose. This is the key tenant of successful bankroll management, as is understanding the risk profile of each potential bet and tailoring your stake amounts accordingly.

Review All Races and Runners

When determining precisely how you want to distribute your bankroll, it’s really important that you retain an overview of the racecards for all seven days. I’ll cover these in more detail below, but this enables you to analyse every race and identify the best value runners and markets associated with each one. For example, 10-year-old gelding Pakens Rock is currently priced at around 67.00 to win the 2023 Galway Plate, despite winning the recent Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan by ½ a length from The Dara Man. So, he may offer enhanced value as an each-way bet at Ballybrit, and this type of insight can prove pivotal at Galway.

📊 Galway Races Betting Markets

You can decide on your picks using my own Galway Races predictions and other relevant datasets, but it’s also important to identify the best value wager types and betting markets. Here are some of the most popular options at Galway Races!

Betting on the Winner

I’ll start with the most popular and straightforward iteration of horse racing betting, at Galway or any other festival in Ireland and the UK. This is the ‘win’ bet, which can be placed as either an ante post or each way wager on the runner that you think will prevail in a particular race. This is essentially a back bet that’s laid by your selected sportsbook at the same odds, with this pricing also dictating how much you’ll win in relation to your stake if successful. Remember, your chosen runner must win if you’re to bank a return, otherwise your entire stake will be lost.

Engage in Each-Way Betting

The second most popular betting market at Galway Races is each-way wagering. This requires you split your stake between two potential outcomes, as you simultaneously back a runner to win and achieved a placed finish. While this reduces your payout in the event of a win, it also increases your chances of recouping at least a percentage of your stake, and it’s ideal when backing outside runners at extended odds. If you do place each-way bets, remember to prioritise sites like William Hill that run extra place promotions in relation to high profile races.

Build Accumulator Bets

If you intend to back the winners of several Galway races this summer, you may want to combine these selections in an accumulator bet. This enables you to combine anywhere between four and 20 selections in a single wager, with the individual odds then multiplied to create a more favourable, extended price. Each of your picks must win for the bet to be successful (unless you access acca insurance), so try to build accumulators with no more than eight selections and prioritise short price favourites where possible.

🎁 Top Free Bets Offers for the Galway Races

Betting Site	Offer	Claim
	Get €20 in free bets when you wager €5	Visit Ladbrokes Sports
	Earn up to €30 in free bets when you place a qualifying wager of €5	Visit Betway
	Earn a 100% Profit Boost up to €400	Visit LeoVegas
	Receive a free bet worth up to €40 if you’re first sports wager fails	Visit Unibet
	Bet €10 and get €50 in Free Bets	Visit BoyleSports
	Bet €10 and earn €30 in Free Bets	Visit William Hill

🗓️ Galway Races Schedule

The Galway Races schedule is usually incredibly tight, and with 53 races taking place across seven days, 2023 is no exception to this rule. To help you navigate this and identify when your favourite races are taking place, I’ve prepared a summary of each day and what you can expect as a punter.

The Opening Day - Monday 31st July

The 2023 festival gets underway on Monday, 31st July, which will host seven evening races between the hours of 17:10 and 20:20. These include the coveted ClareGalwayhotel.ie Irish EBF Maiden and Easyfix Handicap Hurdle.

Throwback Tuesday - Tuesday 1st August

‘Throwback Tuesday’ sees the second evening of action at Galway Races, with a further seven races taking place between 17:10 and 20:20 against the backdrop of some iconic 1980s music! The highlight here is undoubtedly the COLM Quinn BMW Mile Premier Handicap, which attracts some of Ireland’s best handicap runners and boasts a first prize of €72,000.

Galway Plate Day - Wednesday 2nd August

Wednesday, 2nd August is Galway Plate Day, with this prestigious National Hunt steeplechase one of seven races taking place between 17:10 and 20:20. You can also enjoy a country music extravaganza, with performers including The Gamblers, Niall Doorhy and Rhythm Train DJ Set performing live sets throughout the day!

Ladies Day and the Galway Hurdle - Thursday 3rd August

No race meeting would be complete without ‘Ladies Day’, which is scheduled for Thursday 3rd August at Galway in 2023. Here, everyone dresses in their Sunday best to enjoy superb eight superb afternoon and evening races, including the €250,000 Galway Hurdle Handicap. Here’s the complete schedule.

Friday's Most Stylish - Friday 4th August

There are a further eight races scheduled for Friday, 4th August, including the excellent Guinness Galway Blazers Handicap Steeplechase. The on-track action takes place between 17:00 and 20:40 to mark a return of evening racing at the festival, while Friday also sees racegoers compete in the festival’s popular fashion competition (which is sponsored by Athlone Town Centre).

The Weekender - Saturday 5th August

Saturday, 5th August sees the penultimate day of Galway Races 2023, with a further eight races taking place between 13:55 and 17:55. The standout race here is undoubtedly the Ardilaun Hotel Handicap, with the runners set to come under starters’ orders at 16:50.

Last Day - Sunday 6th August

Galway Races draws to a close on Sunday, 6th August, with the final day of the festival known colloquially as the ‘Mad Hatter's Family Fun Day’. This will combine a number of fun family activities and free entry for children with eight races, all of which will take place between 13:50 and 17:30.

Top Bookmakers

1.

Boyle​Sports

Boyle​Sports

Bonus:

€30

Bet

18+ | New customers only. Min stake €/£10 | 30 days to qualify | Payment method restrictions exist | Play Responsibly | Terms and Conditions apply. http://www.begambleaware.org

2.

Mr Green Sport

Mr Green Sport

Bonus:

€50

Bet

18+ New players only. Qualifying bet(s) must have minimum odds of 3/1 and must be settled before triggering free bet. Free Bet must be used on an accumulator with 3 or more selections. 18+. begambleaware.org. T&Cs apply. www.begambleaware.org

3.

Betinia Sports

Betinia Sports

Bonus:

€100FIRST DEPOSIT BONUS

Bet

18+ | New players only | Min. deposit 20EUR | The wagering must be met within 30 days | Additional wagering, banking, terms & conditions apply | Play Responsibly | www.begambleaware.org

🏁 Galway Races History

Records of organised race meetings in County Galway go back to the mid-thirteenth century, but the first official racing festival at the iconic Ballybrit Course was a two-day event held in August 1869. It was here that the Galway Races were inaugurated, with the Galway Plate having been a staple of the event ever since its inception.

This event was extended to a three- and four-day meeting in 1959 and 1971 respectively, before a further day was added to the festival in 1974. In the summer of 1982, Galway Races become a six-day event, before a seventh and final day of racing was incorporated in 1999.

Today, Galway Races is one of the top summer horse racing festivals in the world, with fans flocking in their droves to watch the action. Although the Ballybrit track also hosts meetings in September and October, for example, they’re considerably less popular, while the summer festival regularly draws more than 150,000 spectators over the course of the week.

As I’ve already touched on, legendary trainer Willie Mullins has been the most successful at Galway since 2018, recording 116 placed finishes from 246 runners at a success rate of 47%. Paul Townsend has been the most successful jockey during this period, riding 106 runners in total and placing on an impressive 62 occasions (or 58% of the time).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the Galway Races Betting

✒️ Lewis Humphries Horse Racing and Sports Betting Expert

Lewis Humphries is an experienced sportswriter and tipster from the UK. He writes regularly about the horse racing and key events from across the UK and Ireland, including the Irish Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Grand National. He’s also providing extensive coverage and predictions for the 2023 Easter Festival at Fairyhouse.