Under Control is set to face a maximum 19 rivals in her bid to become the first British-trained winner of the Galway Hurdle since 2010.
The Doctor Dino mare was last seen finishing second in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle earlier this year and makes the trip across the Irish Sea for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
It looks a typically-competitive renewal of the Galway Hurdle and the pick of last season’s winning trainer Willie Mullins’ eight-strong battalion appears to be Punchestown Festival scorer Daddy Long Legs, who is the pick of stable jockey Paul Townend.
Jesse Evans and My Mate Mozzie, the second and third in last year’s edition, are back for another crack at the top prize, with both warming up for this with a spin on the level.
Joseph O’Brien will be hoping Triumph Hurdle fourth Nurburgring can make a mark on handicap debut, Fascile Mode is among the leader contenders after a hurdles success last time out, while Gorgeous Tom goes for the hat-trick in Thursday’s 17:05.
The latest Galway Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Galway Hurdle 2024 verdict
Timeform: MY MATE MOZZIE warmed up for his third attempt on this race with a cracking placed effort at Royal Ascot in June and gets the nod to go two places better than last year. Jesse Evans is another who ran very well in this last year (finished second) and arrives fit from a spin on the Flat and heads the dangers along with Daddy Long Legs, one of eight from Willie Mullins, who is bidding for a sixth win in this since 2016. The shortlist is completed by Petrol Head, who sneaks in at the bottom.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Galway Hurdle 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Galway Hurdle 2024.
Winter Fog
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: B. Hayes Age: 10 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Course winner. Career best when winning 8-runner Grimes Hurdle (22/1) at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) 28 days ago by 16 lengths from Shecouldbeanything, easily.
***
Daddy Long Legs
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 5 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Two wins from 4 runs last season. 2/5, something presumably not right when well-beaten fifth of 8 to reopposing stablemate Winter Fog in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) 28 days ago. The mount of Paul Townend from the stable’s 8 runners. Well capable of bouncing back.
****
Jesse Evans
Trainer: Noel Meade Jockey: C. Stone-Walsh Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Respectable fourth of 11 in minor event at Leopardstown (15f, good, 11/2) 21 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Very smart hurdler, including second in this last year. Enters calculations.
****
My Mate Mozzie
Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 8 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Good third of 16 in handicap (12/1) at Royal Ascot (14.2f, good to firm) 44 days ago, barely adequate test. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Third in this last year. Has good chance on form.
*****
Mighty Tom
Trainer: Cian Michael Collins Jockey: Jordan Colin Gainford Age: 9 Weight: 10st 13lbs
C&D winner. 4/5, below form second of 7 in novice chase at Ballinrobe (17.2f, good) 66 days ago, no match for winner. Switches from chase to hurdles.
**
Nusret
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: Jonathan Burke Age: 5 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Bit below form eleventh of 20 in handicap (8/1) at Royal Ascot (20f, good to firm) 44 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Needs a couple of these to falter.
**
Anotherway
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 5 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Tenth of 11 in handicap at Leopardstown (12f, good, 5/2) on IRE flat debut 76 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Improvement needed but it can’t be discounted given who trains him.
***
Gorgeous Tom
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 6 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 4/1, career best when winning 14-runner minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.3f, good to soft) 92 days ago. Yard having good spell. Makes handicap hurdle debut.
****
Shecouldbeanything
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Sam Ewing Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Bit below form 16 lengths second of 8 to Winter Fog in Grimes Hurdle (11/1) at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Looks competitive on form.
***
Under Control
Trainer: Nicky Henderson Jockey: Nico de Boinville Age: 5 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Very good 2½ lengths second of 6 to Ashroe Diamond in Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f, good, 9/2), staying on well. Off 6 months. Tongue strap on 1st time.
****
Nurburgring
Trainber: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: J. J. Slevin Age: 4 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Two wins from 5 runs last season. 15/2, creditable sixth of 10 in handicap at Leopardstown (9f, good) 14 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Others more persuasive.
**
Williamstowndancer
Trabiner: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 6 Weight: 10st 9lbs
5/6, won 14-runner maiden at Leopardstown (15f, good to firm) on flat debut 42 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Can make presence felt under Blackmore.
****
Kings Hill
Trainer: Paul John Gilligan Jockey: Jack G. Gilligan Age: 5 Weight: 10st 8lbs
Fourth of 11 in maiden at Leopardstown (10f, good, 18/1) on flat debut 14 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Useful hurdler, respectable on last hurdle outing.
***
A Penny A Hundred
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Kieran Callaghan Age: 5 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Pulled up in handicap hurdle (10/3) at Ayr (24.3f, good to soft) 103 days ago, tailing off end of back straight. Significantly back down in trip. Stable has more obvious contenders elsewhere.
**
Fascile Mode
Trainer: Thomas Mullins Jockey: Jack Foley Age: 6 Weight: 10st 7lbs
10/3, career best when winning 7-runner minor event hurdle at Punchestown (19.2f, good) 53 days ago. Others more persuasive.
**
Risk Belle
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 5 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Latest win in hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. Bit below form thirteenth of 23 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.5f, soft, 16/1) 89 days ago. Back down in trip. Others more persuasive.
**
Arctic Fly
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. Cleary-Farrell Age: 6 Weight: 10st 6lbs
38 lengths last of 6 to Shecouldbeanything in minor event hurdle at Listowel (16.4f, good, 7/1) 61 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Makes handicap hurdle debut. Others have achieved more.
**
Icare Debois
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. J. M. O’Sullivan Age: 6 Weight: 10st 6lbs
Latest win in hurdle at Naas in April. 4/6, respectable second of 6 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (16.8f, good) 54 days ago.
***
Ndaawi
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 4 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. Creditable seventh of 20 in handicap (28/1) at Royal Ascot (20f, good to firm) 44 days ago. Switches from Flat to hurdles. Useful hurdler, poor on last hurdle run.
***
Petrol Head
Trainer: Miss Katy Brown Jockey: Non Runner Age: 8 Weight: 10st 0lbs
Non Runner
Thursday Galway Tips
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for Galway on Thursday
- Galway horse racing tips for Thursday from Rory Delargy
Read More on the Galway Races
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
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- How to watch the Galway Races Summer Festival including free live stream details
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