Galway Hurdle now the richest National Hunt race ever run in Ireland

Boost to feature is part of €160,000 prizemoney raise for Galway festival

The prizemoney for the Galway Hurdle has been boosted to €300,000.  Photograph: Inpho.
The prizemoney for the Galway Hurdle has been boosted to €300,000. Photograph: Inpho.

Prizemoney for the Guinness Galway Hurdle at the end of July has been boosted to €300,000, making it the richest National Hunt race ever run in Ireland.

The €50,000 boost to the Day Four feature is part of a €160,000 prizemoney boost for the week overall that brings the total festival prizefund to a record €1.8 million.

The Tote-sponsored Galway Plate on Day Three of the festival has been boosted by €20,000 to €220,000. Each of the seven days will feature a race worth €80,000 and minimum race values have been increased to €12,000.

Meanwhile, Jessica Harrington's sole runner at Punchestown, Sandymount Duke, can prosper in one of the maiden hurdles after his runner-up finish to Limini last month.

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Darwins Fox relishes decent ground and comes to the opening chase relatively fresh.

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor

Brian O'Connor is the racing correspondent of The Irish Times. He also writes the Tipping Point column