Galway kicks off today and it is a Festival like no other! There is a mixture of both Flat and Jumps action to start the week with the staying handicap the feature on the opening day with a prize pot of over €65,000 on the line.Plenty of each way value to be had so hopefully we can start the week as we mean to go on with plenty of winners! Here are my best bets and previews for Day 1 of the Galway Festival.Quick Galway Festival day 1 (Monday, July 27) tips5.10 Witches Familiar – 11/8 with Betway NEXT BEST5.40 Westoftignes each way – 13/2 with Betfred6.10 City Of Gold – 43/10 with SBK6.40 Light Up The Dark each way – 8/1 with Coral7.15 Dancing Saxon – 19/20 with SBK NAP7.50 Darius Dark each way – 5/1 with Spreadex8.20 Power Of Knowledge – 14/1 with bet365Joe’s win double: WITCHES FAMILIAR and DANCING SAXON at 7/2 with bet365Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for Galway Festival day 1Find my top tips for Monday 27th July 2026 racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:5.10 Galmont Hotel & The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle (4YO only) 2m1/2fTrainer Willie Mullins has won two of the last three renewals and took it 12 months ago with Davy Crockett. He saddles market leader WITCHES FAMILIAR this time around and this filly by Zarak should take a lot of beating. She bolted up by twelve lengths on stable debut at Ballinrobe and looks quite an exciting prospect going forward. This is tougher but she looks worth following.Carmel’s Phoenix hasn’t really been tested yet but she has looked promising too winning her last two starts and with more to come should be able to make a race of it. Arouet has been backed and is another one to note in an intriguing opener but hard to oppose the favourite. Bet on WITCHES FAMILIAR to win at 11/8 with Betway 5.40 EASYFIX Iggy Daly Handicap Hurdle (4YO plus) 2m1/2fI can see WESTOFTIGNES running a big race here. This son of Westerner stayed on strongly to win at Wexford when last seen and now with his new yard could be ready to take his form up a few notches again. This is fiercely competitive but he looks on an upward curve and should acquit himself well at a nice each way price.Hopeful Hero is also in winning form having scored with authority at Bellewstown last time. The third, fifth and seventh have all won since so the form is certainly stacking up too. Of the rest Drombane has achieved a decent level of form and if improving again could get involved from a place perspective. Bet on WESTOFTIGNES each way at 13/2 with Betfred 6.10 Eventus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden (2YO only) 7fI think this is more open than the betting is suggesting so I’ve decided to take a chance on CITY OF GOLD going close. This colt by Wootton Bassett finished nearer last than first on debut at Fairyhouse but he still shaped with some promise and could be ready to leave that a long way behind now. He has first-time cheekpieces and should love stepping up to 7f here.One Number was very much back to form finishing third at Naas and if improving again could be a big player. Debutant Hmas Perth holds some fancy entires but might do better for the experience but still worth monitoring in the betting especially closer to post time. Bet on CITY OF GOLD to win at 43/10 with SBK 6.40 Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (70-100) (Premier Handicap) (4YO plus) 2m1fTime for the feature race on Day 1 of the Galway Festival and I can see LIGHT UP THE DARK running a big race here for Joseph O’Brien. I loved the way she asserted to win at Gowran Park and then she had excuses when only fourth at Fairyhouse when last seen. Stepping back up in trip here will suit and she should be well handicapped off this mark so I’m expecting a big run.Granite Bay is more exposed but was a good third at the Curragh last month and should be spot on for this now. Too Bossy For Us has been running to a decent level and is another one I can see getting competitive at the business end. Bet on LIGHT UP THE DARK each way at 8/1 with Coral 7.15 Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap (3YO only) 7fI know DANCING SAXON was denied the hat-trick at Naas but she ran a massive race in defeat bumping into the progressive Soul Love. Her form is progressive and if she improves again the rest will be playing catch-up here. She looks potentially thrown in back in a handicap and is fully expected to justify favouritism.Coincidental Glory ran well when third at Limerick and again when runner-up at Navan so if finding a bit extra here could be the main danger. Sagasti was denied just half a length at Dundalk and leaves the impression there is more to come so should run well too. Bet on DANCING SAXON to win at 19/20 with SBK 7.50 Gra Chocolates Handicap (3YO only) 1m41/2fI have been with DARIUS DARK the last twice and despite a further 8lb rise he should have a great chance to complete the four-timer. I know he only won by a neck at the Curragh last month but I thought he was value for more than that narrow margin. Everything looks in place for another big run so he is worth keeping on side.Vantage Code took his form up a few levels to finish second at Roscommon and if improving again could be the danger. Sharkeyboy is unexposed for Willie Mullins and now stretching out in trip on handicap debut could get involved here. Bet on DARIUS DARK each way at 5/1 with Spreadex 8.20 Ray Dooley Monami Construction Flat Race (4YO only) 2m1/2fA half-brother to Mystical Power POWER OF KNOWLEDGE is fancied to make a winning debut here. He is by Camelot and is obviously bred to be really smart. Mullins won this back in2023 with My Great Mate and this colt may well be good enough first time out.The betting will be informative but Teofil has experience on side having gone down just three lengths on debut at Punchestown and could improve enough to be the danger. Which Flannerys is another one who can take a step forward and land a blow. Bet on POWER OF KNOWLEDGE To Win at 14/1 with bet365 My top tip for day 1 of the Galway FestivalReally looking forward to the racing at Galway this week and hopefully we can start with a winning double. WITCHES FAMILIAR arrives with a tall reputation in the opener and DANCING SAXON is thriving and is fancied to justify favouritism for Joseph O’Brien. Bet a Win Double on WITCHES FAMILIAR and DANCING SAXON at 7/2 with bet365 About the authorJoe NorrisI’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTOCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. 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