Galway Races 2022 Day 1 preview and tips: Coltor to kick things off in style with rare double

Dermot Weld is the King of Ballybrit at the Galway Races. Coltor is going to kick things off in style with a rare double.

Finian Maguire is back for more under Ooltor in the Connacht Hotel Handicap. He won the event 12 months ago. Willie Mullins is the defending champion.

HMS Seahorse and As Tears Go By are the favourites for the Galway Hurdle. Gaoth Chuil is a newcomer to the race and needs to be above average to cause an upset. Seán O'Keeffe's mount won a handicap at the Curragh last time out.

Denis Hogan trained and rode Darkened to victory in the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle 2m130yds. Darken won the race at Kilbeggan on his last start. Golf Marin, owned by JP McManus, failed to fire up the home straight in Tipperary. Delightfantastic, trained by John Joe Walsh, should make the frame under Harry Swan. Galway Races 2022 Day 1 is on Saturday.

Claregalway Hotel.ie Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden 2yo 7f. Weld farmed this maiden for many years and is looking to win his sixth win in the last 11 renewals. Tiverton is the son of Expert Eye and won at the Curragh on his debut. Cairo is a Group Three winner at Leopardstown. Jessica Harrington-trained Pivotal Trigger is another with strong form in his book. Shane Foley's mount can chase Tivton home.

Coltor is the favourite in the Connacht Hotel Handicap 2m179yds. Patrick Mullins is hoping to win the race with hurdler Echoes In Rain. Harry Fry had the third place in this race last year. Last year's winner is back to retain his crown. Coltor can spring another surprise for Weld and Maguire in a rare back-to-back success for them.

Band Width is a favourite in the 7.15 Hotelgalway Handicap 7f. Andy Oliver won the race in 2013 and 2014. Band Width beat Dairerin at Limerick earlier this month but he didn't get a run in final two furlongs behind Jessica Harrington-trained Dairester. Billy Lee's mount is expected to exact revenge. Girl Crush is respected. Joseph Murray's charge is likely to be prominent from stall six. Hector Berlioz and Raleigh Bridge deserve a second look at bigger prices.

Common Practice is one of three recent winners among the 16 runners in the 7.50 Eventus Handicap 3yo 1m4f84yds. Oliver's Gradulations is also of interest after his fine run of form came to an end in Downpatrick last month.

Coltor will kick things off in style with a rare double. Monami Construction INH Flat Race 4yo 2m130yds. This Songisforyou is an interesting newcomer for Emmet Mullins. Bukhill will make his debut under the trainer's son Patrick. Western Comandor ran a belter on debut at the end of May. Maxine O’Sullivan”s mount may be the each-way play in the last.