18:40 Galway

Monday 27 July 2026

All17:1017:4018:1018:4019:1519:5020:20

Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (70-100) (Premier Handicap)

Off time: 18:42 | Winning time: 3m 55.43s

(7)

Holy See⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-2| J: Ms K M Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: W Durkan| OR: 98

40/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler. Much improved when useful winner on Flat handicap bow at Gowran (1½m, soft) in April. Beaten before the longer trip came into play at the Curragh (1¾m) subsequently. Has been freshened up but remains with stamina to prove.

Form: 124/10

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(1)

Yashin^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 96

66/1

Has gone the wrong way since winning last year's Sagaro at Ascot, faring no better with blinkers/hood fitted on final start for Michael Bell. Picked up for only 15,000 gns by new connections and hard to be confident of an immediate revival.

Form: 7606-00

(5)

Galileo Dame¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 93

15/2

Sole Flat success came in a Leopardstown maiden in 2024. Looked as good as ever in this sphere with creditable efforts in the Chester Cup/Ascot Stakes prior to finding Group 3 company beyond her last time.

Form: 00-2477

(6)

Lark In The Mornin²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D P Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 93

10/1

Fred Winter winner of 2024 who completed a Flat double in conditions race at Listowel last September. Travelled well when resuming winning ways at Bellewstown (1½m) latest and remains unexposed over staying distances in this sphere.

Form: 4/311-01

(16)

Glenroyal^p⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr H C Swan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 92| C

33/1

Most progressive when making it 3 wins from 4 in a conditions race at Roscommon (1¼m) last autumn. Well beaten over an extreme distance in the Ascot Stakes (2½m) sole Flat start since. May find 2m around this track more his bag.

Form: 31011-0

(3)

Granite Bay⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Fahey| OR: 92

7/2

Likeable sort. Made the frame for the eleventh time in his last 12 starts in a competitive Curragh handicap (1¾m) in early-June. That pair that beat him failed to back that up, and he could again be vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 2242-43

(11)

Westminster Moon^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr F Maguire| T: A J Martin| OR: 92

12/1

Had some smart form in Germany prior to joining shrewd connections. Well beaten in this race last year (50/1). In much better heart when landing gamble at the Curragh (1¾m) in late-May before struggling over significantly longer trip in Ascot Stakes latest.

Form: 00-0710

(20)

Comfort Zone^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 91| D

18/1

Useful in both codes at his best. Third in 2025 Ascot Stakes before disappointing in this race 12 months ago. Races off 3 lb lower than when down the field at Royal Ascot last month. Another change of headgear will need to spark a revival, though.

Form: 003-0P0

(18)

Sirius^h²⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D H Dunsdon| T: W P Mullins| OR: 91| CD

18/1

Lightly raced since smooth winner of this event (50/1) back in 2024. Looked every bit as good when quickening clear of Smooth Tom to make it 2-2 under this jockey in Amateur Riders Derby at Curragh last October. Hasn't had a prep run this time around but top yard may well have her ready to roll.

Form: 5014/01-

(4)

Eagle Fang^v¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr J C Barry| T: W Durkan| OR: 90

13/2

Smart hurdler. Chased home a subsequent winner in Leopardstown maiden (15f) before going one better with a bit in hand at Killarney subsequently. Opening mark probably harsh on his bare Flat form, though could easily be more to come considering his exploits over jumps.

Form: 3/21

(2)

Filey Bay^h,t²⁸⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D McGill⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 90| CD

15/2

Landed a gamble when winning this corresponding event by 4¾ lengths 12 months ago. Back to form when sixth in useful Naas handicap last October. Hasn't had a prep run this time but has proven he can go well fresh. Needs considering in his bid to repeat off 6 lb higher.

Form: 64/0106-

(21)

Light Up The Dark¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J L Gleeson| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 89

17/2

Low-mileage 5-y-o. Fine length third behind Teed Up in C&D handicap at this meeting last year. Cosy winner on reappearance and looks to have been laid out for this (met trouble/not knocked about at Fairyhouse last time). Big performance expected, for all stall 21 isn't ideal.

Form: 7134-14

(15)

Tyson Fury¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss G Benson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 89| BF

50/1

Shaped well when runner-up in maiden hurdle at Killarney on latest start. Best recent Flat form has come on the all-weather and he may just find this too competitive.

Form: 3-46106

(14)

Smooth Tom^v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr A P Ryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 88

40/1

Back to his best when chasing home Sirius at the Curragh on latest Flat start in October. Relatively untested over staying trips in this sphere, though was beaten a long way out over hurdles at Cork (3m) earlier this month.

Form: 01/3802-

(13)

Teed Up^t⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr B T Stone⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 88| CD

14/1

Off same mark as when winning this race in 2023. Did remarkably well to notch sixth Galway victory in C&D handicap here last summer (nearly brought down/badly hampered). Tongue strap returns for first time since that success and this has clearly been the target.

Form: 90/9103-

(10)

Clear Quartz³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr L P Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Fahey| OR: 87| C

28/1

Useful performance to win at Roscommon (1½m) in September. Went backwards from a promising reappearance at Curragh last time and significantly longer trip a step into the unknown (by Slade Power).

Form: 0138-28

(22)

Jabbar^p⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: Gerard O'Leary| OR: 87| CD

40/1

Returns from a break 2 lb lower than when going close in top-end handicap at Curragh (14f) last June. Well below form in couple of starts on Flat this year, though.

Form: 5206-79

(12)

Too Bossy For Us^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss J Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 87

11/1

Undone by wide draw in this race 12 months ago. Excellent placed efforts in handicaps at Curragh/Leopardstown either side of that. Again arrives on the back of an encouraging effort at the Curragh and expected to be bang there this time around.

Form: 2030-66

(8)

Plontier^p1,t1²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 86| BF

66/1

Hasn't stood much racing since finishing 8½ lengths sixth behind Filey Bay here last year. Has since left Willie Mullins for only 2,000 gns and was well below his best when runner-up in a Tramore claimer (1½m) on stable debut.

Form: 200/60-2

(19)

Tounsivator¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 86| D

17/2

Useful hurdler who was unlucky not to finish closer when fourth in Galway Hurdle here last year. Has won 2 of 4 starts on the Flat since, latterly on reappearance at Fairyhouse (1¾m), but this requires a career best.

Form: 06/108-1

Non-Runners

(9)

Daddy Long Legs²⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 1

(17)

Highwind³¹

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: W P Mullins J: Reserve 2

(23)

Immutable⁸⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: J G Murphy J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Granite Bay (7/2), Eagle Fang (13/2), Galileo Dame (15/2), Filey Bay (15/2), Tounsivator (17/2), Light Up The Dark (17/2), Lark In The Mornin (10/1), Too Bossy For Us (11/1), Westminster Moon (12/1), Teed Up (14/1), Daddy Long Legs (16/1), Highwind (16/1), Immutable (16/1), Comfort Zone (18/1), Sirius (18/1), Clear Quartz (28/1), Glenroyal (33/1), Holy See (40/1), Jabbar (40/1), Smooth Tom (40/1), Tyson Fury (50/1), Plontier (66/1), Yashin (66/1)

Unexposed stayer LIGHT UP THE DARK can land a valuable pot for the Joseph O'Brien team. The main danger could be Too Bossy For Us, who's threatening to come good soon. Former winners of this race Filey Bay, Sirius and Teed Up also appeal in a typically competitive renewal.