The Galway Festival has reached day five on Friday and we have picked out three selections to keep an eye on.
It’s day five of the 2025 Galway Festival on Friday with the highlight the Guinness Handicap at 18:35.
We have picked out a trio of selections on the card including one in the feature race.
Selections
17:30 Galway – Uncle Pat @ 3/1
18:35 Galway – Acapulco Bay @ 2/1
20:10 Galway – A Dream To Share @ 7/4
17:30 Galway – Uncle Pat @ 3/1
Uncle Pat took to chasing very well last time out and there’s the suggestion he will improve for that run in the second race on the card.
This lightly raced seven-year-old had a decent career over hurdles which was capped with a win at Listowel in September, but even then there were signs he would be best over the larger obstacles.
He made his chasing debut last month at Roscommon and finished a credible second, showing that it was correct to assume he would develop to be a decent chaser.
Leading for most of the race, the 3m1f trip seemed to get the best of him and he weakened two from home. However, the positive signs were that he finished way ahead of the rest of the field and more importantly he jumped well throughout. It was a good start and will improve for the run.
Uncle Pat is dropped in trip now which should benefit him and with a run under his belt, there is every chance he goes one better at Galway.
18:35 Galway – Acapulco Bay @ 2/1
The model of consistency, Acapulco Bay has been in good form this season but has not yet reaped the benefits.
Running no sort of race on his reappearance this season in the Group 3 Derby Trail at Leopardstown, he has since scored a hat-trick of third places.
Going off as favourite on each occasion, he has at times looked outpaced, especially in the two Listed races he has contested, but he has shown that he has the ability to dig deep and stay on when it matters, as seen when finishing third in the Ulster Derby in June.
Running under top weight he put in a credible effort in the circumstances. It was a decent effort last time out as well, so the suggestion is now back in handicaps on a decent mark he should be able to showcase his abilities better and has every chance to reverse his fortunes.
20:10 Galway – A Dream To Share @ 7/4
A top class bumper performer, winning at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in 2023, A Dream To Share has been tried on the flat this summer with limited success.
Thrown in Maidens over a mile and seven furlongs early in the season, he posted back-to-back fourth-placed finishes, clearly finding the trips too short and never really being able to get into the race.
He was stepped up in trip last time out to 1m7f and he justified favouritism to win in comfortable fashion, making light work of the rest of the field. The large step up in trip allowed him to show his class and he could have won by a larger margin had he been pushed out sooner.
This trip may be a touch on the sharp side for him, but it is only a furlong shorter than his win last time out and he comes into this on the back of a strong performance. He very much looks the one to beat.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: https://blog.betway.com/horse-racing/friday-galway-horse-racing-tips/
