A Week of Racing: Galway & Goodwood

Monday

The Galway festival kicks off with a packed card, featuring the Connacht Hotel Handicap (7.10pm) over two miles and one furlong. Metier, trained by Harry Fry, makes his first appearance since May. Alphonse Le Grande, hero of the Northumberland Vase, is the 4-1 favourite, with last year’s winner Teed Up and the Willie Mullins-trained Lot Of Joy also prominent in the betting.

Before the action in Ireland, there are two meetings at Ayr and Southwell, with fixtures at Windsor and Wolverhampton concluding the day.

Declarations for the second day at Glorious Goodwood and confirmations for Saturday’s races, including the Group 2 Lillie Langtry and Coral Stewards’ Cup, will be revealed at midday.

From 6pm, Racing Post readers can access bumper tipping and preview packages ahead of day two at Galway and the opening day of Glorious Goodwood.

Tuesday

Glorious Goodwood gets underway with a stellar card headlined by the Group 1 Goodwood Cup (3.35pm). Ascot Gold Cup hero Kyprios, looking to remain unbeaten this season, faces six rivals, including Coltrane, Trueshan, and Gregory.

The Vintage Stakes (2.25pm) and Lennox Stakes (3.00pm) provide the perfect warm-up to the main event, with Group 1 winners Kinross and Noble Dynasty set to clash in the latter.

Day two at the Galway festival also gets underway, featuring the Listed COLM QUINN BMW Novice Hurdle (4.50pm). Gale Mahler, who completed a five-timer for Adrian Keatley this month, will be looking for another success.

There are also fixtures at Yarmouth, Beverley, Ffos Las, and Lingfield for punters to get their teeth stuck into.

Looking ahead to later in the week, declarations for Thursday’s races, including the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, will be revealed.

Wednesday

The Qatar Sussex Stakes (3.35pm) is the standout race on day two of Glorious Goodwood. Richard Hannon’s stable star Rosallion will attempt to secure a third consecutive Group 1 victory. The three-year-old, who landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas before Royal Ascot glory, is odds-on favourite against rivals like Henry Longfellow and Notable Speech. The Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes (2.25pm) and Molecomb (3.00pm) are also expected to be competitive.

It’s Galway Plate (7.10pm) day in Ireland, as day three of the summer festival unfolds. The Fry-trained In Excelsis Deo is popular in the betting, while Perceval Legallois, also owned by JP McManus, holds strong claims for Gavin Cromwell.

There is a six-race fixture from Redcar, with the day concluding with evening action at Sandown and Leicester.

Declarations for Friday’s action will be revealed, and readers can access tipping and previews for Thursday’s racing at 6pm on the Racing Post website and app.

Thursday

The summer party continues at Goodwood with the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes (3.35pm). Coronation Cup second Opera Singer will attempt to give Aidan O'Brien more success in the race, while John and Thady Gosden could be double-handed with Emily Upjohn and Inspiral.

The Group 2 Richmond Stakes (2.25pm) and the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (3.00pm) also feature on the card. Wathnan’s latest recruit, The Strikin Viking, is favourite for the former.

The heat intensifies at Galway with the Galway Hurdle (5.05pm) and the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase (2.45pm), both Grade 3 races. Nicky Henderson sends Under Control to the former, while Willie Mullins could be represented by Daddy Long Legs and Bialystok.

The second week of Racing League takes place at Wolverhampton, with teams hoping to build on last week’s opener at Yarmouth. Fixtures at Nottingham and Epsom also take place.

Declarations for Saturday’s action will be revealed at 10am, and Tom Segal and Paul Kealy provide their best bets for Friday, which will be live on the Racing Post website and app at 6pm.

Friday

The penultimate day at Goodwood features the King George Qatar Stakes (3.35pm), a five-furlong Group 2 with an international feel. Aussie raider Asfoora proved too good in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot for Henry Dwyer and is set to retain the services of Oisin Murphy. However, those who finished behind her on that occasion are expected to be among the chief dangers.

Big Evs, Believing, Kerdos, and Makarova, who finished third, fourth, fifth, and seventh in the King Charles, could line-up, alongside last season’s Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream, Czech star Ponntos, and the supplemented Jasour, all adding depth to the race.

The Coral Golden Mile (3.00pm) is the big punting handicap at Goodwood. At Galway, the Guinness Handicap (6.35pm) occupies the same position on day five of the festival.

Fixtures at Bath, Musselburgh, Newcastle, Newmarket, and Southwell ensure there is plenty of racing elsewhere.

Don’t miss out on expert previews, full of insight from tipsters and quotes from trainers, and best bets for the final day at Glorious Goodwood and penultimate action at Galway, which will be live on the website and app at 6pm.

Saturday

The Coral Stewards' Cup (3.35pm), one of the trickiest handicaps of the entire Flat season, is the final day highlight of Glorious Goodwood. 102 entries are vying for a slot in the maximum field of 28 before Monday’s confirmation stage. Saturday’s Ascot winner Albasheer leads the ante-post market.

The undercard features the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes (3.00pm), and ITV will also broadcast two races from Newmarket’s July course.

The BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm) headlines day six at Galway. Fixtures at Thirsk, Doncaster, Hamilton, and Windsor also take place.

Sunday

The action-packed week comes to an end with the final day of Galway’s summer festival, featuring the always competitive Ahonoora Handicap (7.00pm). Downpatrick also takes place in Ireland.

Fixtures at Chester and Haydock complete the domestic action. At Chester, the Listed Queensferry Stakes (4.05pm) takes place, while the penultimate Sky Bet Sunday Series takes centre stage at Haydock.

Vandeek will not be among them, but strong British and Irish representation is likely in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

Premier Meetings:

Tuesday: Goodwood

Wednesday: Goodwood

Thursday: Goodwood and Wolverhampton (Racing League)

Friday: Goodwood

Saturday: Goodwood

Sunday: Haydock

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