The favourite for the Galway Plate of 2025 knows a thing or two about landing big handicaps at Ballybrit. Nurburgring chases his own slice of horse racing history at the track on Wednesday, 30 July as he bids to complete a famous double.
Winning the Galway Hurdle, then returning to Ballybrit the following season and attempting to land the Plate seems wildly audacious even for someone as steeped in a training dynasty like Joseph O’Brien. Famous father Aidan couldn’t have dreamed up this scenario, yet that is what the son plots.
Nurburgring bolted up in the Hurdle 12 months ago with a seven-length romp in what is supposed to be one of the most competitive handicaps, not just of the Galway Races, but the entire programme of the sport in Ireland. After conquering that, what else was left for him over the smaller obstacles?
Connections didn’t waste much time in sending Nurburgring chasing before he turned five. Before his four-year-old year was out, he’d notched three runs in this sphere, enough to qualify him for another trip to the Cheltenham Festival. Laid out for the inaugural running of the Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, he ran well and made the top four.
Caldwell Potter, a big money purchase out of the Emerald Isle for the Paul Nicholls stable, made most of the running and Nurburgring was never near to challenge. The Galway Plate of 2025 over a couple of furlongs further looks tailor-made for him, based on how he shaped in March. He has since won a prep race over fences around Killarney after just missing out on Ascot Stakes glory during the Royal meeting on the level by a neck.
Nurburgring Not Only Plate Hopeful with Cheltenham Form
Given the pick of his form across all codes within the last 12 months, it’s easy to see why horse racing bookies respect Nurburgring. Many others go to Galway in good shape, however, including some more who ran at Cheltenham. David Budds’ Anyway actually finished ahead of the Plate favourite in the Jack Richards. He ran a screamer at 125/1 when chasing home Caldwell Potter, who franked the form at Aintree.
Far from that being a fluke, Anyway also won his prep race for Ballybrit around Kilbeggan. He actually meets Nurburgring off 1lb better terms from Cheltenham with a couple of lengths between them. Cian Collins saddled Jazzy Matty to Grand Annual Chase glory, meanwhile, and connections may have been protecting his revised mark over fences for a tilt at this.
He runs in the Galway Plate of 2025 off half-a-stone higher than at Cheltenham, but remains unexposed as a stayer. There is sufficient stamina shown by certain other progeny of his sire, Doctor Dino, for it to at least look worth trying. Harry Cobden comes over to Ballybrit from England for this sole ride, which may be a tip in itself. Jazzy Matty won a 2m 5f conditions races around Sligo over fences earlier in his career, so it’s not completely uncharted territory for him.
Cheltenham Festival Plate runner-up Thecompanysergeant is another nudged up by the assessor for a big run in defeat and heading to Ballybrit. Gavin Cromwell’s eight-year-old has a stamina-laden pedigree and bumped into Jagwar around Prestbury Park when last in action over fences. Thecompanysergeant effectively has 5lb more on his back now. His sole steeplechasing win came here at this meeting 12 months ago.
Mullins & Elliott Battalions Go for Galway Plate 2025
As long-time rivals at the top end of the Irish trainers championship, Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott ready squads of their own for this valuable race. For Closutton, the reserve Arctic Fly won recently, but didn’t make the cut of 22. Stable jockey Paul Townend rides Adamantly Chosen, who ran over the Grand National fences at Aintree in the spring. Olympic Man and Zenta completes the Mullins mounts, but they don’t leap off the page for punters.
Elliott’s Cullentra House operation has double the number of runners including first reserve The Goffer, who tried his hoofs at Cross Country recently. When placed in the Topham Chase on the Grand National course, he finished in front of Henry De Bromhead runner Amirite and Adamantly Chosen.
Guaranteed a run in the Galway Plate of 2025 for Elliott are the in-form Western Fold, who seeks a hat-trick; last season’s second and third Duffle Coat (off the same mark) and Zanahiyr; the latter’s fellow Bective Stud horse Chemical Energy, Three Card Brag, mare Shecouldbeanything and JP McManus’ Down Memory Lane.
Just like the Mullins mounts, the Cullentra eight lacks a standout horse but has force of numbers. Stable jockey Jack Kennedy, back riding after another broken leg, picks course winner Three Card Brag, but his sire, Jet Away, seems to produce inconsistent progeny. Elliott has 7lb claimers on the Bective Stud duo, which suggests they’re handicapped up to their best.
Other Course Winners Seek More Galway Glory
Donagh Meyler gets the Noel Meade trained Jesse Evans in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary! 🥇@tuvastables | @tipperaryraces pic.twitter.com/NrtYpHTAFy
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) July 3, 2025
Away from the big yards, previous Ballybrit winners from stables like Noel Meade and Jessica Harrington have a go. Jesse Evans is a nine-year-old now, but continues to pay his way and has often saved his best for this track. He arrives in good order after landing the Grade 3 Grimes Hurdle around Tipperary. Jesse Evans has also tried fences before, so takes his chance.
Ashdale Bob prevailed in the Grade 3 novice chase on Galway Hurdle / Ladies Day card at this meeting last season, meanwhile. Although the oldest in the line-up aged 10, Harrington’s charge has that course win under his belt. As with Jesse Evans, it’s a matter of how much improvement such veterans can have against younger legs with fewer miles on the clock.
Even O’Brien has more than one iron in the fire for the Galway Plate of 2025 thanks to Common Practice for McManus. Yet another course winner, he runs in first-time blinkers and took a Grade 3 novice chase around Thurles in March. Common Practice missed out on a mile-and-a-half handicap win here in 2022 by a head as well, so Ballybrit has seen him to good effect before.
Buddy One, best known for his staying hurdle campaigns, completes the past Galway winners in the line-up this season. Father-son trainer-jockey duo Paul and Jack Gilligan may have planned a tilt at the Plate since he scored over course and distance in October. Topweight Senecia, Emmet Mullins runner Sea Music and John Ryan’s Gaelic Arc are the others in the 22.
Galway Plate 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
It’s hard to get away from NURBURGRING here. He showed such a turn of foot when landing the Galway Hurdle, then later demonstrated requisite stamina that O’Brien might just pull off a miraculous double. Thecompanysergeant rates a big danger, however, and should go very well for the Cromwell yard.
Anyway is another in good form, but Jazzy Matty has claims too now stepped up in trip. From the big gun stables, the only horse showing signs of improvement is Western Fold. O’Brien also has Common Practice, who is the pick of three for leading owner McManus in the line-up.
WATCH: Nurburgring Win the Galway Hurdle in Style
