Will Galway Hurdle prove El Cairos is the real deal?
Jack Kennedy washes down El Cairos. Pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho
The 2026 renewal of the Guinness Galway Hurdle revolves around favourite El Cairos and whether he is as good as he potentially looked before a final flight fall at the last in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle at Christmas.
On the back of that mishap, the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was sent to Thurles for his Cheltenham prep run but, while he got the job done, another final flight blunder raised further concerns about his jumping.
Despite those worries, he was a leading fancy for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but, despite finishing best of the Irish raiders, he had to settle for fifth in a race won by Old Park Star.
The Punchestown festival looked a gilt-edged opportunity for El Cairos to end the season on a high but the 2-1 favourite fluffed his lines, finishing fourth behind Eachtotheirown.
Elliott remains confident El Cairos is the real deal and, if that is the case, he could prove a class apart here.
However, on the evidence to date, there’s more reason to take him on than back him and preference instead is for the William Durkan-trained Laafi.
First past the post in a 21-runner contest at Aintree’s Grand National meeting, Laafi was subsequently disqualified due to the jockey going over the permitted level of strikes.
More frustration followed last time out as Laffi was collared late on by Moon Chime in Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May.
The six-year-old is due a change of luck and this might be the day he gets it.
This being the Galway Hurdle, a case could be made for plenty, a shortlist that would have to include the Willie Mullins-trained Murcia, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Puturhandstogether, and last year’s victor Ndaawi.
However, from an each-way perspective, Putapoundinthejar looks overpriced for Tony Martin, a man seeking his fifth Galway Hurdle success.
Successful on the Flat at Bellewstown in April, the six-year-old followed up over hurdles on his return to the Meath venue earlier this month.
This task will demand more but his trainer proved he remains a dab hand at laying out a horse for a big race when winning Tuesday’s feature with Orandi.
Being partnered by the promising Daniel King is a further positive for his prospects.
Elsewhere on the card, Meriden can extend her remarkable winning sequence to six by getting the better of Black Caviar Gold in the Arthur Guinness Irish EBF Corrib Fillies Stakes.
The Denis Hogan-trained Bated Breath filly completed a fantastic five-timer when getting the better of Green Carrera at Killarney earlier this month and a repeat of that display may suffice here.
The nap comes in the fourth race, the Guinness Novice Hurdle, where Midnight Jet is fancied to complete a hat-trick for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe.
The five-year-old Maxios gelding got off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles when beating 24 rivals at Fairyhouse in April before following up at Killarney last month.
Roc Dino is a big threat but Midnight Jet can get the better of the argument.
Eighteen runners will face the judge in the penultimate race, the Guinness 0.0 Handicap, but bottom weight Rodeo Blues, successful in her last two starts, can land the spoils for Joseph O’Brien.
2.10 Seven Nation Army
2.45 Meriden
3.20 Shadow Paddy
3.55 Midnight Jet (Nap)
4.30 Laafi
5.05 Hygge
5.40 Rodeo Blues (NB)
6.12 Run Ted Run
2.10 Celtic Moon
2.45 Black Caviar Gold
3.20 Wild Bill Hickok
3.55 Roc Dino
4.30 Putapoundinthejar
5.05 Zaraahmando
5.40 Faro Island
6.12 Market Square
