FASHION, sporting and racing royalty could be found out west this week for the launch of the 2026 Galway Races.

The Earl Inn, an exquisitely-renovated bar and restaurant towards the east of the county in Kiltullagh, was a fitting venue for the event given it is home to the Earls family of Easyfix renown - the winning owners of last year’s Guinness Galway Hurdle hero Ndaawi.

Gordon Elliott was one of a number of trainers in attendance, and he even brought Ndaawi and his 2025 Tote Galway Plate winner Western Fold to the launch. They were alongside another Galway great of a different kind, hurling legend Joe Canning, as well as a host of ladies in the hunt for best-dressed honours later this month.

The countdown to the seven-day spectacular is well underway and Shark Hanlon was on hand to distribute free bets on behalf of his sponsors BoyleSports, who recently took over the on-course betting shop at Ballybrit.

Cards were being kept close to the chest of connections regarding which runners those vouchers should be used on. All eyes will be fixed on the feature-race entries when they close on July 15th.