SEVEN WAYS TO ENJOY SEVEN DAYS
Galway can be an eye-opener for the uninitiated. Ballybrit veteran Daniel McDonnell shares the benefit of his experience, which should help first-timers through the week-long festivities
1. DON’T BACK DERMOT WELD BLINDLY
YES, he’s the king of Galway. Yes, he’s been the champion trainer for 29 of the last 30 years. And maybe there was a time, even in recent memory, where there was a certain logic in backing Dermot Weld (below right) runners blindly and thinking you are going to come out with money in your pocket at the end of it.
But other trainers are targeting Galway in a very deliberate fashion and chances are that a number of well-backed Weld hotpots will get turned over during the week after starting as favourite because of their connections and a hunch rather than form evidence. Weld was top trainer in 2015 courtesy of a new points system which gave five points for first place, three for a second and a point for third. Willie Mullins actually trained eight winners that year, with Tony Martin saddling six and Weld next with five; the placed horses got him over the line, which wouldn’t have been of much use to those who like to back win only.
Last year, Mullins (below left) was champion trainer with a return of nine winners from the 17 horses that made the journey. That’s a strike-rate worth paying attention to. Quality over quantity is always a safer betting strategy, so save the pennies on the 4/7 Weld shot in the six-runner maiden and wait to see what bullets Mullins fires at some of the bigger races. He has also aimed Cheltenham-quality novice hurdlers at this festival: Penhill won a twomile hurdle 12 months ago after a remarkable ride from Ruby Walsh and went on to win the Albert Bartlett at the Festival over a mile further.
2. LOOK FOR THE (CD) ON THE RACECARD
THE letters on the racecard may be alien to the casual punter but the bracket at Galway that is often of relevance is the (CD), which explains that this horse has previously won over this course and distance. The (C) indicates they have won over the course but at a different trip. That matters at Galway which, similar to the city itself, is an idiosyncratic place that suits some characters but not others. It’s a sharp track that lends itself to some rough races with big fields and it helps to find a horse that likes to be up there with the pace as they can meet traffic problems in behind. There’s also a steep uphill finish that tests the reserves of stamina so a horse that’s been there and done that over the distance is a major plus. It’s a bit like selecting your company for the evening’s festivities. Should you wish to stay out for the entire night, then gravitate towards the steady socialite with FOMO (fear of missing out) that will last the course instead of the weak link with a reputation for fabricating a toilet break and then nipping out the side-door to hop into a taxi before the night has even started. You need someone you can trust all the way to the queue for Supermac’s. Apply the same logic on the track.
3. DON’T BE WORRIED BY A FAMILIAR FACE
OK, it can be awkward in a social situation in Galway if you bump into someone who you vaguely recognise from a few days before but can’t remember his or her name – especially if he or she treats you as a long-lost friend. Racing-wise, however, it’s better if the slightest mention rings a bell because repeat performers are a strong feature of the week. It’s rare for horses to run a couple of days apart – and even rarer for them to turn out on two days in a row – but this can happen in Galway. And they are generally turned out again because they’re in exceptionally good form and might just have peaked at the right time in the season. This is because their connections may just have viewed the earlier part of the year as a mock exam rather than the real deal. In 2013, Tony Martin’s Busted Tycoon managed to win three times at Galway, with a win on the Flat on the Tuesday followed by hurdles successes on the Saturday and Sunday. As an example, Tithonus won twice on the Flat last year and in his second win he narrowly touched off Cairdiuil (which had finished second earlier in the week) and Beau Satchel (which was also looking for a Galway double). Beau Satchel is a (CD) merchant having won at Galway in 2014 and 2015. Two of the placed horses in the Galway Plate, Alelchi Inois and Devils Bride, went on to win races on the Sunday.
4. BEFRIEND A TAXI DRIVER
THIS will only make sense after a forlorn experience in the early hours walking down streets in search of the yellow light that will not appear. It’s good to be able to call on somebody you can trust. Otherwise, those revellers staying a bit out of town will have to learn that if you’re not home by midnight, then you may struggle to get home at all.
5. DRESS COMFORTABLY
FORGET the best-dressed competition malarkey. Let’s be honest: they’re generally hoovered up by the same faces that soullessly travel from festival to festival pursuing such awards; they are basically a more attractive version of those opportunists that cynically work the table quiz and golf classic circuit and care not for the disdainful stares that accompany their walk up to collect their prize. This is not to advertise the scruffy look. The style is part of the attraction for swathes of the crowd. But some form of pragmatism is required; you’re likely to spend the guts of six hours wandering around in changeable weather with punters shoving against you every couple of seconds. Just think about what might work best for that.
6. COMMAND AN AREA
THIS is textbook day-at-the-races strategy and yet it trips so many people up. The British Empire would never have taken off if its policy of colonisation involved landing in one place, taking control and then departing en masse – without leaving a person behind – and then returning a couple of years later expecting to be afforded the same rights. If you have the numbers to take a spot in a particular place, then make that the base, leave in turns for drink/food/ betting breaks and always ensure a couple of volunteers say behind each time to mark the territory. It means there’s a simple meeting point for the disorientated that lose their bearings easily. Alternatively, agree to meet there after every race. It’s abundantly obvious but is beyond those who much prefer to meander into the crowds and spend a good portion of their day sending ‘Where are u?’ messages to mates that are unlikely to have the reception to answer. Old-school communication works best.
7. KNOW YOUR DAYS
THIS is vital for the Galway Festival experience. Of course, the image of Galway is that it’s a full-on party for seven days, and it is in its own way if you know where to go. Still, a bit of knowledge goes a long way and if you can’t do the entire week, then be conscious of which days might suit you best. Monday and Tuesday are slightly more sedate, and the audience might just know that bit more about their horses. The locals enjoy it too. Wednesday and Thursday offer the best racing – with the Plate and the Hurdle on successive days – but the human traffic makes it slightly harder to move around the grounds if you want to take a look in the parade ring, get a bet on and also find a place in the stands for a race. Thursday is Ladies’ Day so prepare for even more competition in every sense of the word. Friday is the halfway house, the bridge between the departure of the midweek socialities and the arrival of fresh blood; and the crowd numbers for this day soared last year. The weekend allows some local revellers that have been working all week to get out and they are joined by the bank holiday tourists to add a raucous last-days-of-Rome feel to proceedings. It’s certainly an acquired taste and, while the weekend numbers are always lower than the midweek highlights, there are regular racegoers that prefer to sit out the last couple of days and watch from afar.