1.55 BoyleSports Download Our App Maiden Hurdle 2m 150yds

It must be taken as a considerable vote of confidence for Ninth Titan that Paul Townend has opted to ride the French recruit on his debut for Willie Mullins in a maiden hurdle where the champion trainer runs three.

Ninth Titan, who will wear a hood for the first time on his switch from the flat, joins these shores after holding a smart flat mark of 98 on his last start. His stablemates Rath Gaul Boy, who has useful bumper form, and Olympic Man, already experienced over hurdles, hold chances in their own right.

This Songisforyou, representing Emmet Mullins and the Mee family, makes a quick reappearance after finishing a good third on the flat on Wednesday. He can be thereabouts if on his ‘A’ game, while Charles Byrnes’ hurdling debutant Bumble Bee Bet is worth a market check.

SELECTION: NINTH TITAN

Next best: Olympic Man

2.30 BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 2m 6f 168yds

Noel Meade and Jack Singleton went desperately close in Thursday’s Galway Hurdle when second with the admirable Jesse Evans but they could be set for some compensation if first reserve Bugs Moran sneaks in at the bottom of this €110,000 prize. He hasn’t been seen for 464 days but looked a progressive handicap hurdler back then with a preference for decent ground. Jack Kennedy has got a fine tune out of him before and retains the ride.

If his stamina holds up, Thecompanysergeant could have an each-way chance for Denis Hogan, while Ilikedwayurthinkin loves this place and shouldn’t be forgotten about now switching back to hurdles from fences.

SELECTION: BUGS MORAN

Next best: Ilikedwayurthinkin

3.05 BoyleSports Casino Irish EBF Maiden 1m 73yds

Aidan O’Brien has won this race on 14 occasions and his sole runner in this year’s contest, Navy Seal, gets a tentative nod against some interesting newcomers. The selection is a brother to the classy Never Ending Story and arrives here with the benefit of a run, having finished a respectable fifth on debut at Killarney last month.

Joseph O’Brien sent out the talented Buckaroo to win this maiden two years ago and Bad Desire is worth a second look for the top stable this time, being a smartly-bred son of Wootton Bassett. Kathaniel, a gelded debutant for Andy Slattery, probably looks best of the rest.

SELECTION: NAVY SEAL

Next best: Bad Desire

3.40 Bathshack Maiden 1m 73yds

He hasn’t totally set the world alight in maidens so far but this looks an excellent chance for Simpson’s Paradox to get off the mark at the fifth attempt. Representing Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley, who have got on the scoresheet on multiple occasions this week, he can put his experience to good use and probably shouldn’t have to run beyond his rating of 82 to win this.

It will be interesting to see whether there is market support for newcomers Spitfire Fighter, Katola and Peddler’s Lane.

Lord Vader is rated 72 and should be on the premises for Emmet Mullins. Bottler’secret shaped with promise on his Limerick debut for Ciaran Murphy and could be a bit of each-way value if taking to this track as expected.

SELECTION: SIMPSON’S PARADOX

Next best: Bottler’secret

4.15 Grá Chocolates Irish EBF Nursery Handicap 7f

A 12lb hike for Jakajaro after bolting up in the first nursery of the season at the Curragh two weeks ago makes life tougher but connections appear to have found him a cracking opportunity to double up in this €21,000 contest. He handles a cut in the ground but doesn’t appear totally dependent on it and arrives here with more experience than his main rival, Portland.

That Aidan O’Brien-trained challenger has shown ability on both starts but was pretty green last time at Tipperary when running around and colliding with the rail briefly.

A four-runner field here should be a help but he’ll need to be more streetwise around this track. The other two runners are slightly out of the handicap, but the Mick Mulvany-trained Lia Fail got off the mark at Down Royal last time and mightn’t be far away off a handy weight.

SELECTION: JAKAJARO

Next best: Portland

4.50 Ardilaun Hotel Handicap 7f

If Ado McGuinness is still waiting for a first winner at the 2023 Galway Festival by the time this race comes around, he might well break his duck with Half Nutz, who ran encouragingly here on Tuesday when fifth to the well-backed Bells On Her Toes.

Missing the kick from an inside draw didn’t help his cause, for all that he typically takes his time, and perhaps he could be one to come over the top of his rivals down the outer from stall 12.

Lady Arwen bumped into well-handicapped rivals on both occasions she appeared at this meeting 12 months ago, finishing third twice. She arrives here in cracking form and is entitled to be in the firing line again if continuing her upward trajectory. The Mpex Kid got lit up in a pace battle when down the field on Tuesday but was beaten a neck when second in this race in 2020 and could run well at a price if back on song.

SELECTION: HALF NUTZ

Next best: Lady Arwen

5.25 McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap 1m 3f 180yds

A mark of 72 looks attractive if the Noel Meade-trained Luke Short can get back to the form of some of his better flat runs, including when an eyecatching fifth - beaten three quarters of a length - off 82 in the Northfields Premier Handicap at Irish Champions Weekend in 2022. Rated 86 at his peak, he is dangerous to discount despite the trip being an unknown and his fitness being uncertain after a 434-day layoff.

Granville Street delivered a lovely performance to win here on Thursday and remains an unexposed type with scope to improve. He’s respected but a 7lb penalty makes his task tougher and he’s not drawn as well this time while turning out quickly.

Expound finished in front of him at Ballinrobe two starts ago and receives 1lb from that rival so is bound to be in the thick of things again, while Banned, Mon Coeur, Wasthatok and One Cool Poet all have solid enough claims in an ultra-competitive handicap.

SELECTION: LUKE SHORT

Next best: Expound

5.55 BoyleSports Irish EBF Mares Bumper 2m

Willie Mullins has won five of the last seven runnings of this race - including the last three in a row - and his sole representative this time around, The Twelve Pins, should be hard to beat.

She hasn’t been seen since a fine effort when runner-up against the boys on her sole start at this meeting last year, finding only This Songisforyou too strong on that occasion. She is proven at the track and hails from a family with plenty of Galway winners in the pedigree.

Pinky showed up well on debut for Emmet Mullins at Down Royal in June and has the potential to be suited by this venue, while Royal Hollow and Little Soiree have shown winning potential in bumpers previously.

SELECTION: THE TWELVE PINS

Next best: Pinky