2026 Galway Hurdle Trends

July 24, 2026
Andy Newton

Run over a distance of 2m the Guinness-sponsored Galway Hurdle is always staged each year towards the end of July, early August, at the Galway Festival.

Did you know - 19 of the last 23 winners finished in the top three last time out, while trainers Joseph O'Brien, Willie Mullins and Tony Martin have a top record in the race - winning 11 of the last 12 runnings between them.

Here at GEEGEEZ, we look back at recent winners and gives you the key stats ahead of the 2026 renewal, this year run on Thursday 30th July 2026.

Recent Galway Hurdle Winners

2025 - NDAAWI (13/2)
2024 - NURBURGRING (13/2)
2023 - ZARAK THE BRAVE (9/2)
2022 – TUDOR CITY (22/1)
2021 – SALDIER (18/1)
2020 - ARAMON (7/1)
2019 – TUDOR CITY (10/1)
2018 – SHARJAH (12/1)
2017 – TIGRIS RIVER (5/1)
2016 – CLONDAW WARRIOR (9/2 fav)
2015 – QUICK JACK (9/2)
2014 – THOMAS EDISON (7/2 fav)
2013 – MISSUNITED (7/1)
2012 – REBEL FITZ (11/2)
2011 – MOON DICE (20/1)
2010 – OVERTURN (6/1)
2009 – BAHRAIN STORM (20/1)
2008 – INDIAN PACE (7/1)
2007 – FARMER BROWN (9/2 fav)
2006 – CUAN NA GRAI (7/1)
2005 – MORE RAINBOWS (33/1)
2004 – CLOONE RIVER (7/2 fav)
2003 – SABADILLA (14/1)

Galway Hurdle Betting Trends

23/23 – Won over at least 2m (hurdles) before
22/23 – Won by an Irish-based trainer
20/23 – Won between 2-4 times over hurdles before
19/23 – Finished in the top 3 last time out
17/23 – Aged between 5-7 years-old (but last 2 winners aged 4)
16/23 – Irish bred
15/23 – Raced within the last 4 weeks
15/23 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
14/23 – Carried 10-12 or less in weight
14/23 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
11/23 – Favourites that finished in the top 4
8/23 – Won last time out
7/23 – Rated between 120-130
7/23 – Aged 6 years-old
5/23 – Trained by Willie Mullins (5 of the last 9), (6 in total)
4/23 – Winning favourites
4/23 – Trained by Tony Martin (4 of the last 12)
3/23 – Ridden by Patrick Mullins (3 of the last 8)
2/23 - Ridden by Paul Townend (2 of the last 18)
2/23 – Trained by Michael Winters (2 of last 13 runnings)
2/23 – Trained by Paul Nolan
Trainer Joseph O'Brien has won 2 of the last 9
Gordon Elliott won the race for the first time in 2025
Trainers Joseph O'Brien, Tony Martin and Willie Mullins have won 11 of the last 12 runnings
The average winning SP in the last 23 runnings is 10/1