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Galway Races: Magic memories from the Plate and Hurdle

The iconic festival is back and set to thrill once more

Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Galway Races: Magic memories from the Plate and Hurdle

Danny Gilligan celebrates his Galway Plate victory on Ash Tree Meadow in 2023

Two of the most treasured prizes in Irish racing are up for grabs next week as the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle take centre stage.

Ahead of the latest renewals, here is a look back at some of the best in recent years…

Ash Tree Meadow (Galway Plate, 2023)

Teenage dreams came true in the Galway Plate two years ago as local jockey Danny Gilligan led Ash Tree Meadow to a memorable triumph on his home track.

The then-17-year-old, who grew up between Craughwell and Athenry, reckons he has been at every Galway Festival since he was a baby and bagged his first-ever winner at the meeting on board Neveradullmoment earlier in the week.

Handed the ride on Gordon Elliott’s second favourite in one of the week’s showpiece races, he avoided potential disruption from loose horse and stablemate Andy Dufresne – who parted company with Aidan Kelly at the first – to hit the front approaching the home straight.

“I don’t know what to say, I can’t believe it,” he said.

“I can’t thank Gordon and all the owners in the yard enough. I’m just delighted.”

Tigris River (Galway Hurdle, 2017)

Barry Geraghty had won nearly all there was to win in the UK and Ireland but a win in either of Galway’s feature races had alluded him – until this thriller.

Tigris River got up to beat Swamp Fox by a neck and provide Geraghty with a victory which meant a lot to a jockey who had only returned from a lengthy lay-off earlier in the Festival.

"Along with the Plate, the Galway Hurdle is one of the big jumps events of the year in Ireland and it's a huge thrill to have won it at long last," said the winning jockey.

It also marked a first win in the race for trainer Joseph O’Brien, 20 years on from father Aidan getting off the mark when AP McCoy led home Toast the Spreece.

Joseph said: "Barry gave him a great ride, I'm delighted. He was probably flat out all the way as he probably wants a little bit further, but the preparation and the race went perfectly. There's no stronger man than Barry."

Pinkerton (Galway Plate, 2024)

Last year’s Galway Plate was one to remember as just a solitary length covered the first three home.

Pinkerton, a 20/1 shot with Donagh Meyler on board, won the battle with Gordon Elliott’s stablemates Duffle Coat and Zanahiyr to mark a return to the winner’s enclosure for Noel Meade.

The trainer enjoyed back-to-back Galway Hurdle victories in 1982 and 1983 but hadn’t earned Plate glory since 2014 with Road To Riches before Pinkerton struck.

“The big races here are huge and this is one of the biggest ones,” a delighted Meade said.

Saldier (Galway Hurdle, 2021)

The race that took Willie Mullins out on his own in the history of this race, Saldier was the trainer’s record-breaking sixth Galway Hurdle winner.

It was also the third time his son Patrick had been on board the victor in four years and just like Sharjah in 2018 and Aramon in 2020, Saldier defied top weight to take the spoils.

“It’s fantastic for Patrick,” said the winning trainer.

“To win a third Galway Hurdle is an extraordinary achievement. The commitment he has, I just marvel at what he does at his age, with his height and weight and everything."

Clarcam (Galway Plate, 2018)

The longest-priced winner of the Galway Plate for 34 years landed in 2018 as 33/1 shot Clarcam led from the front under Mark Enright.

Clarcam was 20 lengths ahead three from home and ended up winning by six to secure a career highlight for the jockey.

"That's unbelievable. It's special. I don't ride these big race winners – these things don't happen to me,” he said.



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