Galway on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player: Jane Mangan leads a strong Ballybrit teamGalway takes centre stage on Tuesday 28 July 2026, with coverage on RTÉ Player, RTÉ2 and HD as the Galway Races continue at Ballybrit. The broadcast team is fronted by Jane Mangan, with Richard Pugh on main commentary and analysis from Andrew McNamara, Davy Russell and Fran Berry, while Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh report from the track.[4][9][14]The live programme comes at a busy point in the festival, with Tuesday’s action featuring the Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle at 16:40 and the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at 18:45, one of the day’s standout races.[1][9][14] That means viewers can expect a mixture of National Hunt and Flat racing, which is a hallmark of Galway’s summer meeting.[9][14]Jane Mangan has become one of the most recognisable figures in Irish racing television, combining presenting duties with race-day insight and interviewing. Her role on RTÉ’s Galway coverage fits a wider broadcast pattern that has made the festival a staple of Irish free-to-air racing television.[4] Richard Pugh, meanwhile, brings the race-by-race commentary to life, a crucial job on a meeting where the pace can change quickly and the atmosphere at Ballybrit is famously intense.[4][9]The pundit panel is particularly strong. Andrew McNamara is well known to racing fans as a former jockey turned analyst, giving him the kind of inside perspective that often helps explain tactics, jumping and pace in running. Davy Russell, one of the most successful and respected jumps riders of the modern era, adds deep big-race experience, while Fran Berry offers the Flat-racing angle from a long career in the saddle.[4] That blend of National Hunt and Flat knowledge suits Galway especially well, because the meeting is one of the few festivals where both codes share the spotlight across the week.[4][9]From the reporting team, Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh will be on hand to gather quotes, track reactions and any late updates from trainers and jockeys. Walsh, in particular, is widely known to racing audiences as a former top-level rider and a familiar broadcast presence, giving RTÉ’s coverage added authority close to the action.[4]Tuesday’s card is scheduled to run through the evening, with confirmed race times including 16:40, 17:10, 17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45 and 20:15.[1][2] The feature at 18:45 is a Premier Handicap worth €120,000, underlining why Galway is one of the most important summer festivals in Irish racing.[14] The meeting is also notable for its changing going and competitive fields, with the racecards showing full-strength entries across the card.[9][10]For viewers in Ireland, the key takeaway is simple: RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player are the places to watch, with a broadcast team that combines presentational polish, elite riding experience and strong race commentary.[4] In a festival built on atmosphere, colour and high-quality racing, that is exactly the kind of line-up Ballybrit deserves.More on the meeting can be found through the official Galway Races coverage here: Galway Races.

Match date: 28 July 2026

Galway takes centre stage on Tuesday 28 July 2026, with coverage on RTÉ Player, RTÉ2 and HD as the Galway Races continue at Ballybrit. The broadcast team is fronted by Jane Mangan, with Richard Pugh on main commentary and analysis from Andrew McNamara, Davy Russell and Fran Berry, while Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh report from the track.[4][9][14]

The live programme comes at a busy point in the festival, with Tuesday’s action featuring the Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle at 16:40 and the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at 18:45, one of the day’s standout races.[1][9][14] That means viewers can expect a mixture of National Hunt and Flat racing, which is a hallmark of Galway’s summer meeting.[9][14]

Jane Mangan has become one of the most recognisable figures in Irish racing television, combining presenting duties with race-day insight and interviewing. Her role on RTÉ’s Galway coverage fits a wider broadcast pattern that has made the festival a staple of Irish free-to-air racing television.[4] Richard Pugh, meanwhile, brings the race-by-race commentary to life, a crucial job on a meeting where the pace can change quickly and the atmosphere at Ballybrit is famously intense.[4][9]

The pundit panel is particularly strong. Andrew McNamara is well known to racing fans as a former jockey turned analyst, giving him the kind of inside perspective that often helps explain tactics, jumping and pace in running. Davy Russell, one of the most successful and respected jumps riders of the modern era, adds deep big-race experience, while Fran Berry offers the Flat-racing angle from a long career in the saddle.[4] That blend of National Hunt and Flat knowledge suits Galway especially well, because the meeting is one of the few festivals where both codes share the spotlight across the week.[4][9]

From the reporting team, Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh will be on hand to gather quotes, track reactions and any late updates from trainers and jockeys. Walsh, in particular, is widely known to racing audiences as a former top-level rider and a familiar broadcast presence, giving RTÉ’s coverage added authority close to the action.[4]

Tuesday’s card is scheduled to run through the evening, with confirmed race times including 16:40, 17:10, 17:45, 18:15, 18:45, 19:15, 19:45 and 20:15.[1][2] The feature at 18:45 is a Premier Handicap worth €120,000, underlining why Galway is one of the most important summer festivals in Irish racing.[14] The meeting is also notable for its changing going and competitive fields, with the racecards showing full-strength entries across the card.[9][10]

For viewers in Ireland, the key takeaway is simple: RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player are the places to watch, with a broadcast team that combines presentational polish, elite riding experience and strong race commentary.[4] In a festival built on atmosphere, colour and high-quality racing, that is exactly the kind of line-up Ballybrit deserves.

More on the meeting can be found through the official Galway Races coverage here: Galway Races.

Article generated: 28 July 2026, 16:40 GMT