Galway Plate Betting, Odds, Free Tips and Prediction (2024)

🏆 Galway Plate Prediction

This year’s Galway Plate is expected to be more keenly contested than ever, with Perceval Legallois, In Excelsis Deo, Lets Go Champ and Amirite all among the ante-post favourites. The latter is an intriguing pick and offers immense value as an each-way runner, having contested some top staying handicaps and placed second in the Kilmurray's Midlands National Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan last time out.

However, Gavin Cromwell’s seven-year-old gelding Perceval Legallois is my pick to prevail at Ballybrit. He certainly has course form, having won here on his chase debut last October, while he placed a close second in the Galway Hurdle back in 2022. So, he’s proven over the distance and has a penchant for Galway’s undulating circuit, and currently offers significant value at around 8.00.

🏇 Galway Plate Betting Preview

Although Perceval Legallois may be my pick to win the 2024 Galway Plate, Amirite is one of several horses that’s likely to push him over the 2 miles and 6+1⁄2 furlong distance. So, here’s my analysis of the three most likely contenders.

1️⃣ Perceval Legallois

At first glance, Perceval Legallois’ record is not particularly impressive. He has won four of his 18 rules races and just one of five chase meetings, but he’s in excellent form and has placed in the top three in seven of his last 10 outings since June 2022. His performance in the Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle in 2022 also showcased his innate ability to traverse the Ballybrit course, while he only ultimately lost by a head to Nathaniel's Dream.

Form and track pedigree could prove crucial here, while Perceval Legallois is known to perform well in good and good-to-firm going. He’s also a seasoned stayer who regularly races over three miles or more, while he placed second at Punchestown at Class 1 level last time out. So, he offers excellent value as an outright winner here.

Best Odds on Perceval Legallois

• 8.00 at Boylesports
• 7.00 at Ladbrokes
• 8.00 at William Hill Sports

2️⃣ In Excelsis Deo

The six-year-old gelding ‘In Excelsis Deo’ has seen his odds of winning the 2024 Galway Plate slashed recently, following his superb win in the G2 Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase last time out. He raced splendidly over the 2m 4f Cheltenham course here, pulling clear in the final straight to prevail by 4¾ lengths.

He tends to reserve his best performances for good and good-to-firm conditions as well, so here’s sure to be among the contenders here. He has also placed in the top three in six of his nine chases, so he offers value as a potential each-way pick too!

Best Odds on Excelsis Deo

• 8.00 at Boylesports
• 8.00 at Ladbrokes
• 8.00 at William Hill Sports

3️⃣ Amirite

Amirite’s performance at Kilbeggan on July 12th set the eight-year-old gelding up perfectly ahead of his trip to Galway. Racing over an epic three miles and one furlong, he stayed the course superbly and rallied brilliantly in the final 100 yards, eventually being defeated by just three lengths by Idas Bay. This was his seventh consecutive run over three miles or more, and he remains one of the most consistent stayers in the sport.

This affords him a competitive advantage in the Galway Plate field, as he knows how to time his run over the distance and is known to perform well in good going. This Henry De Bromhead-trained runner has placed in four of his nine chase outings to date too (44.44%), so he’s another that offers excellent value as a potential each-way bet at the Ballybrit Racecourse.

Best Odds on Amirite

• 9.00 at Boylesports
• 10.00 at Ladbrokes
• 11.00 at William Hill Sports

⭐ Galway Plate Betting Tips

In addition to these three runners, Lets Go Champ and Mr Policeman are tipped to do well in this years’ Galway Plate. Regardless of your preferred horse or betting market, however, it’s important that you analyse the relevant form metrics and make informed selections. Here are some tips to help in this regard!

✅ Opt for Active Horses

The most prevalent trend factor in the last 20 Galway Plate iterations (and one that has produced an LSP of +64.50) is when runners had two or more starts in the previous 180 days. This yielded more than 10 winners, so I’d recommend prioritising horses that have remained active during the spring and summer months. This definitely favours Amirite and Excelsis Deo, with the latter having contested three races since February 3rd. Early favourite Perceval Legallois has also raced twice since February 4th.

✅ Analyse Historic Jockey Performances

Jockeys play a key role when racing over long distances, especially at challenging and undulating tracks like Ballybrit. Over the course of the previous 20 Galway Plate renewals, Paul Townsend and Mark Walsh are the only two jockeys to win more than once, with the latter prevailing twice and riding five placed finishers in just 12 outings. He’s expected to ride the narrow ante-post favourite Perceval Legallois at Ballybrit in 2024, affording this runner an overt competitive edge in the field.

✅ Consider Recent Wins

Interestingly, six of the last 20 Galway Plate winners since 2004 triumphed after running at Punchestown last time out. This is a trend factor that benefits Perceval Legallois, who competed in the EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase here on May 3rd and ultimately finished second to Hgranca De Thaix after a solid run. Three of the last 20 race winners have also run at Killarney last time out, so be sure to analyse each horse’s most recent form and outings before placing your bets on the best betting sites.

📊 Galway Plate Winners

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the Galway Plate 2024