Login
WATCH FREE
Monday Galway tips: Johnny Ward likes a 25-1 shot on Day One
By Johnny Ward
Last Updated: Sun 26 Jul 2026
Top presenter and pundit Johnny Ward has five best bets for the first day of action at the Galway Summer Festival! Watch every race and all the analysis live on Racing TV.
Join Racing TV for FREE!
Day one of Galway brings back memories aplenty for this son of the main county in the West of Ireland.
The only mixed cards left in Ireland, it's really deep racing on day one, and my selections are generally big prices. With Goodwood commencing Tuesday, little wonder this is many punters' favourite week of the year.
5.10 Galway: Dawn Coming
Could a relatively exposed maiden win a race as deep as this? One would need a price and gets it at 18-1 but he has been extremely consistent, will likely love the strong pace and crucially gets weight off the previous winners.
A cracking opener in which the yard also runs Munsif. A play each-way.
5.40 Galway: Inchicquin Star
Inchicquin Star did well for Stephen Kiely and is on a winning mark.
Michael Kenneally had to be in demand in a race like this and on only her second hurdles start for the yard, she is worth chancing each-way at 25-1.
6.10 Galway: Yellow Sky
Beyond One Number, this lacks depth, with no Dermot Weld runner in the race he long farmed.
I am not sure how Trean could be put in so much shorter than Yellow Sky, who already has comparable form and has only run once (Trean flopped on his second start).
At 14-1, he appeals each-way after a pleasing debut effort at the Curragh in a Group race masquerading as a maiden. Johnny Murtagh's horses are not at all gunned to win first time.
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBetT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBetT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets with MidniteT&Cs Apply
Claim Now
7.15 Galway: Girl Bear
The talking horse from a handicap perspective on this card at Galway who is quite obviously theoretically thrown in is Dancing Saxon.
She will likely be a similar price to Hitchcock (10-11 here 20 years ago under Kieron Fallon) and Along Came Casey (6-4 five years later) and both of those were beaten in big fields, showing that Galway is essentially a difficult place to avoid trouble.
Girl Bear is certainly well-treated on her debut run, when she shaped like the best horse in a course-and-distance maiden, and she is a lot better than the result alone at Fairyhouse.
Billy Lee will likely try to dictate from gate one and she is 12-1.
7.50 Galway: Nod Of Approval
A win bet at 16-1. He was really eye-catching at Cork, did not stay an extended two miles at Limerick and might have found conditions a bit fast at the Curragh when still running a blinder. Keithen Kennedy takes off 5lb.
Racing TV encourages responsible gambling - to find out more click here to head to our dedicated website page.
Related posts
Ryan Moore: the inside track on my King George day rides at Ascot
Angus McNae's Sunday Tips: "He can win again at Pontefract"
King George: Kalpana gains revenge on Calandagan in Ascot thriller
Martin Dixon's Saturday tips: two more picks after 100-30 winner!
Mark Rowntree's Sunday tips: Selections from Pontefract and Uttoxeter
Featured offers
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + MB as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Fav- Galway and Goodwood with BOYLE Sports
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBet
T&Cs Apply
Claim Now
Copyright 2026 Racing TV - All Rights Reserved.
Please bet responsibly
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved