Galway Festival 2025 day six betting tips

It’s the penultimate day at Ballybrit, and while Sunday brings the curtain down, Galway Festival Saturday is where the real punting madness tends to peak.

With big fields, plot jobs, and form that sometimes makes less sense than the weather, it’s a card that rewards boldness (or blind luck). Whether you’re clawing back losses or pressing on a profit, I’ve lined up a few tips to help you tackle the chaos with confidence.

Top Galway Festival 2025 offer

Galway Festival day 5 (Saturday) tips

• 2.02 Night Moon 2/1 NEXT BEST
• 2.37 Putapoundinthejar 13/2 each way
• 3.12 Chart Topper 10/1 each way
• 3.52 Some Pretender 7/4 NAP
• 4.27 Action 4/9
• 5.00 Moon Reign 5/1 each way
• 5.35 Zaraahmando 7/2
• 6.05 Pillar Of Hope 9/1 each way

*odds from bet365 are predicted and subject to change

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for the Galway Festival on Saturday

Find my top tips for today’s Galway racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

2.02 BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle (4YO plus) 2m1f

Willie Mullins has won 3 of the last 5 renewals and NIGHT MOON looks a fascinating runner first time out for the yard. He cost 100,000 guineas at the sales following an easy win in a Listowel handicap a couple of years ago. He has been off since but retains potential and looks a nice addition to the jumping ranks. This doesn’t look overly competitive and with Townend in the saddle he could get favourite backers off to a dream start.

Stede Bonnet is by Walk In The Park and arrives on a hat-trick having won bumpers at Clonmel and Bellewstown. It is never easy carrying a penalty in a bumper so he could be a nice type and should make a race of it.

Bet on NIGHT MOON to win at 2/1 with bet365

2.37 BoyleSports Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle (4YO plus) 2m1f

This must be one of the few races on the calendar that Willie Mullins is yet to win. He does have the favourite Last Kingdom but that horse has spurned a couple of good opportunities the last twice. PUTAPOUNDINTHEJAR looks much better value and if he gets back to the form that saw him win at Punchestown he will go very close under Kevin Sexton.

Stuntman Steve won at Listowel and then was a good second at Bellewstown so arrives in form and looks one of the main protagonists. Toll Stone was only midfield here on Monday but could still be capable of landing a blow in this.

Bet on PUTAPOUNDINTHEJAR each way at 13/2 with bet365

3.12 BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 2m61/2f

Strong traveller CHART TOPPER could have a big say in the outcome here if it pans out favourably. He ran well behind Jeriko Du Reponet at Punchestown and remains lightly raced in handicaps over hurdles. This trip could prove perfect and at a double-figure price he stood out as being a decent value bet in an open race.

Winning Smut is the one being backed at the yard did win this race last year with The Wallpark. This 6yo by Yeats looked good winning at Ballinrobe and then went down just half a length at Killarney last month. He looks progressive and should run well. Teed Up is likely to go off favourite having won here on Wednesday.

Bet on CHART TOPPER each way at 10/1 with bet365

3.52 Salthill Hotel Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (4YO plus) 2m1f

Another Mullins newcomer in a race he has dominated in recent years winning 2 of the last 3 renewals. SOME PRETENDER cost €28,000 and is a half-sister to Mortlach so is certainly bred to be pretty useful with plenty of stamina in the bloodlines. She starts out in what looks a winnable bumper on paper and while the market will prove informative she should take a lot of beating with Patrick Mullins booked.

Gordon Elliott has Clarnagh Maid who also has a useful pedigree and she could run well on her racecourse debut. Of those with experience Barra Rua appeals most for Emmet Mullins. She caught the eye on debut and then finished fourth in a race that has worked out well at Roscommon last month.

Bet on SOME PRETENDER to win at 7/4 with bet365

4.27 Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden (2YO only) 1m1/2f

Aidan O’Brien won this in 2023 with Navy Seal and again last year with Puppet Master. Both were sent off long odds-on and ACTION looks to follow suit. This Frankel colt was a massive eye-catcher when beaten just half a length on debut at the Curragh. The two horses in front of him were both stablemates and it should work out well in time.

Christmas Day is a stablemate to the selection and could be the one to give him most to think about. He is a half-brother to Missed The Cut and is certainly bred to be pretty useful so watch the market on him.

Bet on ACTION to win at 4/9 with bet365

5.00 Bathshack Maiden (3YO plus) 1m1/2f

Spanish Princess ran well denied just a neck on debut at Killarney and she should go close but she is well found in the betting and is set to go off favourite. I prefer MOON REIGN at an each way price for Joseph O’Brien. He wasn’t cheap costing 210,000 guineas and is a half-brother to Crystal Caprice who was very smart over a mile. He has a wide draw but if forward enough to overcome that I think he can go close.

Little Miss P has experience to draw upon but she needs to learn to settle better if she is to give herself a chance of winning a maiden like this. Stay In The Game is steadily progressive and bumped into one at Redcar so is another one in with a squeak.

Bet on MOON REIGN each way at 5/1 with bet365

5.35 Ardilaun Hotel Handicap (3YO plus) 7f

I do think the market has it spot on here with the hat-trick seeking ZARAAHMANDO the one to beat for Andrew Slattery. This 3yo by Time Test relished the drop back to this trip winning at Limerick and then followed up with something to spare at Fairyhouse last month. He is up in the weights again but hasn’t reached his ceiling yet so is worth chancing.

Storm Averted was beaten less than a length on Tuesday and if the rain arrives she could have a squeak at a price. Convincing should appreciate coming back in trip and is another one to note in a tough handicap.

Bet on ZARAAHMANDO to win at 7/2 with bet365

6.05 McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap (4YO plus) 1m4f

I know Alpha Capture caught the eye running on well for fifth here on Tuesday but he is often a horse that gets overbet and I wouldn’t want to go near him as a short priced favourite. He should go well but PILLAR OF HOPE looks better value. He came good at the Curragh last time and while his mark is certainly no given if this pans out favourably he should run better than his price is suggesting.

Thatwilldoso bounced back to win at Roscommon last month and if she stays the trip she could be dangerous. Luker’s Tipple has top-weight and keeps knocking on the door so is another one bang there in the mix.

Bet on PILLAR OF HOPE each way at 9/1 with bet365

My top tip for Saturday’s racing at the Galway Festival

Willie Mullins looks set to have a big day at Galway on Saturday and his debutant NIGHT MOON should take a lot of beating in the opener. She looks a promising addition to the jumping ranks.

SOME PRETENDER also makes her debut for Mullins in the bumper and she is certainly bred to deliver the goods first time out. Finally ACTION is likely to be sent off a very short price but that is deservedly so given the promise he showed on debut.

Bet a Win Treble on NIGHT MOON, SOME PRETENDER and ACTION at 10/1 with bet365

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.