2023 Galway Festival Tips on August 4th

Friday's card at the Galway Festival features its usual mix of flat and jumps action, with the Guinness Premier Handicap headlining the action on day five.

We've taken a look through the card on day five of the Galway Festival and picked out our top four betting tips.

Galway Festival 2023 Day 5 Tips

Race 1 - Guinness Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle Tips

I'm keen to side with SHECOULDBEANYTHING (6/1) as Gordon Elliott's mare makes her handicap debut. Following a solid sixth in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Elliott's six-year-old has returned to top form with back-to-back Listed victories at Punchestown and Killarney.

Shecouldbeanything remains on the same mark of 128, despite clocking RPRs of 136 and 137 in winning those Listed races. Jack Kennedy's mount will carry just 11-4 on her handicap debut and I'm hoping Shecouldbeanything's proven class will see her come out on top.

Race 3 - Blazers Handicap Chase Tips

An impressive winner of a bumper at this Festival in 2021, MR SAXOBEAT (12/1) has already improved ten pounds for the switch to chasing this summer. Thomas Gibney's seven-year-old won cosily on his chase debut at Clonmel in June, before finishing a close second to Railway Hurricane at Tipperary last time out.

Mr Saxobeat likes to be ridden prominently, which is a big plus around the tight chase track at Galway and Gibney's challenger will be getting weight from the majority of the field. Mr Saxobeat certainly warrants more than a second look. 

Race 4 - Guinness Handicap Tips

Teed Up's love affair with Galway continued on day one, as Emmet Mullins' six-year-old won the 17-furlong Connacht Hotel Handicap. The quick turnaround isn't a worry for the favourite. Dropping back down to a mile-and-a-half is, though, especially on drying ground which might be a bit quick for Teed Up's liking.

I'd rather chance my arm with handicap debutante SPASIBA (12/1) for the thoroughly in-form Paddy Twomey. Billy Lee's mount thrashed some decent rivals on his second outing at Roscommon last May and was put away for the season after a summer gelding operation. 

On his only start so far this term, Spasiba struggled against some stronger stayers over 14 furlongs at Killarney. This drop in trip should certainly suit and I'd be surprised if this progressive four-year-old didn't reach a triple-figure rating in the very near future.

Race 7 - Rockshore Refreshingly Irish Race Tips

Dawn Rising was my NAP on day five of Royal Ascot, so I was delighted to see Joseph O'Brien's gelding win the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Declan McDonagh's mount will have to give seven pounds to some dangerous rivals in this contest, including MT LEINSTER (9/2), who'll be ridden by Champion Jockey Colin Keane.

Mt Leinster has never convinced me as a jumper, but his record on the level is impressive. Willie Mullins' nine-year-old went off as the favourite for last season's Ebor on the back of smart victories at Listowlel and the Curragh, but failed to get involved in that handicap after a terribly sluggish start.

Mullins' charge boasts winning form at this meeting, having won a maiden back in 2020 and it's a track that plays to Mt Leinster's strengths. He offers decent value against the market leader.