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Punters have their pick of two of racing's finest festivals this week. There is stacks of quality action at Goodwood from Tuesday to Saturday, while over in Ireland the Galway Summer Festival runs from Monday to the following Sunday...
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Monday 26th July
Monday is day one of the Galway Summer Festival, and the action kicks off with a typically competitive mixed card.
Tuesday 27th July
'Glorious' Goodwood starts on Tuesday, and the feature event of the Betfair-sponsored card is the Betfair Cup (3:25), a seven-furlong Group 2. There are also a pair of Group 3 events on the card, namely the Gordon Stakes (2:45), a well-established St Leger trial, and the Molecomb Stakes (4:00) over five furlongs for some of the speediest juveniles around.
Galway's Tuesday highlight is the Topaz Mile European Breeders Fund Handicap (7:00) over an extended mile.
Wednesday 28th July
The Group 1 Sussex Stakes (3:25) is one of the highlights of the week at Goodwood, and this year's renewal is shaping up to be a cracker with the likes of Canford Cliffs, Dick Turpin and Rip Van Winkle all reported to be likely runners. The Group 2 Vintage Stakes (2:45) over seven furlongs for juvenile colts has also been known to throw up a decent horse or two, the likes of Sir Percy and Shamardal both featuring on its roll of honour.
The Galway Plate (5:25) also takes place on Wednesday, and there is a total of €200,000 up for grabs.
Thursday 29th July
The Goodwood Cup (3:25) is a Group 2 over two miles in which Aidan O'Brien's Gold Cup runner-up Age of Aquarius is likely to be amongst the market principals. There is a second Group 2 on the card at Goodwood, namely the newly-upgraded King George Stakes (2:45) over five furlongs.
The Galway Hurdle (4:50) is the big race in Ireland, in which Donald McCain's Overturn will be seeking to add a further big race success to his impressive portfolio.
Friday 30th July
The Group 3 Glorious Stakes (2:10) and the Group 2 Richmond Stakes (4:00) are the two pattern races on Friday at Goodwood, but the day's feature is the valuable totesport Mile (3:25), one of the season's major betting handicaps.
Galway also hosts its fifth meeting of the week in the evening.
Saturday 31st July
There is further Group 1 action at Goodwood on Saturday in the shape of the Nassau Stakes (3:05), but the day's most exciting event is the six-furlong cavalry charge that is the Stewards' Cup (3:40).
For those still standing, Galway rumbles on for the sixth of its seven days.