2026 Galway Hurdle Tips - Two selections for Thursday's highlight

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Wed 29 Jul 2026 17:38

Jon Vine 29 Jul 2026

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2026 Galway Hurdle
This lucrative handicap hurdle will be run at the Galway Festival on Thursday 30th July
Laafi and Tounsivator feature in our selections

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Irish racecourse. (Getty)

After day three at Glorious Goodwood wraps up on Thursday, attention will turn to Galway for the fourth day of their summer festival. The main event on Galway's card is the Galway Hurdle, a Grade Three handicap that boasts a rich history dating back to 1913.

Here's our free guide to the 2026 Galway Hurdle, featuring our best betting tips.

2026 Galway Hurdle Odds

Name	Odds
El Cairos	9/2
Puturhandstogether	7/1
Murcia	7/1
Laafi	10/1
Ndaawi	11/1
Starting Fifteen	11/1
Bar	14/1

2026 Galway Hurdle Tip 1 - Laafi

All eyes will be on El Cairos, as Gordon Elliott's Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner makes his handicap debut at Galway. I'd rather side with LAAFI (10/1), who ended last season with two huge performances in big British handicaps.

Formerly trained on the Flat by William Haggas, Laafi won on his hurdle debut at Leopardstown in December 2024, and went into last season's Greatwood on the back of a lengthy absence. Laafi didn't run well at Cheltenham, but finished fifth on his next two starts in lucrative handicaps, before heading to Aintree's Grand National Festival.

Durkan's raider carried 12-00 to victory in the Debenhams Handicap Hurdle, but was later disqualified after jockey Patrick O'Brien was adjudged to have used his whip too many times. Laafi then led jumping the last in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock, but was nabbed on the line by Moon Chime, who was carrying a stone less than Durkan's raider.

Laafi will shoulder just 11-2 in Thursday's feature at Galway, and the ground should be ideal for a horse who was rated in the high 90s on the Flat. O'Brien takes a further 5lb off Laafi's back, and he'll be eager to make amends for the mistakes that cost the team a famous Aintree victory.

2026 Galway Hurdle Tip 2 - Tounsivator

It could also pay to side with last year's fourth, TOUNSIVATOR (18/1). Willie Mullins' former Royal Bond winner ran well under Harry Cobden 12 months ago, and hasn't jumped a hurdle in public since.

Tounsivator transitioned his hurdles form to the Flat, winning a maiden at Tramore three weeks after the Galway Festival. Mullins' seven-year-old was beaten in two valuable autumn handicaps, but returned after a lengthy absence with a narrow victory on the level at Fairyhouse at the start of July.

Patrick Mullins' mount finished a decent fifth in the Connacht Hotel Handicap on day one of this famous meeting, crossing the line two and a half lengths behind Comfort Zone. Willie has used that Flat handicap as a springboard for his Galway Hurdle runners on several occasions, and Tounsivator will be running off a similar mark to last season.

Verdict

2026 Galway Hurdle

Laafi and Tounsivator are our selections in the 2026 Galway Hurdle.

Laafi

2026 Galway Hurdle Tips

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Tounsivator E/W

2026 Galway Hurdle Tips

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