19:15 Galway

Monday 27 July 2026

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

Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap

3YO only | 7f | Yielding | 15 Runners | Turf

(9)

Dancing Saxon⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 80| D

1/1

Back from a break to get off the mark at Dundalk in February and further progress following another 5-month layoff when scoring at Limerick (6.7f) 16 days ago. Improved again when second of 15 in listed company at Naas last week so she's the one to beat (due to go up 16 lb in future handicaps).

Form: 046-112

(7)

Expert Dancer³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: A Slattery| OR: 80| D

12/1

Confirmed previous promise with headgear quickly discarded when winning 13-runner maiden at Limerick (7f, soft) last month, showing a good attitude to take the gap on the rail when it came. Looks up to winning handicaps but she'll find easier openings than this.

Form: 43-3371

(12)

Motta Alta³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 76| D

11/2

Left debut effort behind when winning 16-runner maiden at Limerick (7f, soft) last month, leading over 1f out. Has since switched yards ahead of this handicap debut and she seems sure to take another step forward. Work to do from stall 12, however.

Form: 61

(13)

Final Boss^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Robbie Colgan| T: M J Smith| OR: 75

50/1

Fair form when third in maiden at the Curragh last October but little encouragement to glean from both recent starts. Tongue tie worn last time quickly discarded and could get back on track now tackling a handicap for the first time. Draw could've been kinder.

Form: 935-06

(14)

Nazario⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 75

13/2

Fair maiden who placed on 4 of his 6 outings as a juvenile. Tongue tie discarded on return/yard debut and shaped well when fourth of 12 in handicap at Fairyhouse (6f) last month, staying on final 1f. Unexposed for excellent yard and one to be interested in, though stall 14 poses a problem.

Form: 33726-4

(6)

Caitouna¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Gary Carroll| T: P W Flynn| OR: 73| D

14/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark with Colin Keane taking over for just her second handicap start in 18-runner event at Fairyhouse (7f, good) earlier in the month. Possibly found race coming too soon 8 days on at Leopardstown so can get back on track.

Form: 455919

(5)

Slight Of Foot⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Donagh O'Connor| T: R P Cody| OR: 73

40/1

Left debut well behind when second in Kempton novice in September. Excuses on return but in danger of becoming disappointing judged on both handicap efforts, failing to see his race out in first-time blinkers on latest. Headgear left off on first start for new yard.

Form: 02-694

(11)

Templenoe¹⁰⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Slattery| T: J A Stack| OR: 73

20/1

Has shaped with some promise on all 4 starts to date, third of 11 in maiden at Bellewstown (1m, soft) when last seen in April. Cheekpieces worn that day discarded ahead of this handicap debut and he's worth a market check.

Form: 6-653

(2)

Sagasti^v¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Colin Keane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 72

10/1

Form has an in-and-out look to it, but she proved more straightforward than she has at times when second of 11 in handicap at Dundalk (7f) just over a fortnight ago. Nudged up 2 lb and she's shortlisted with Colin Keane up for the first time.

Form: 83-6302

(1)

Girl Bear²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Lee| T: Jack Foley| OR: 70

9/1

Showed something like her debut form switched to handicap company when third at Roscommon (7.5f) in May. Shaped as if still in good form dropped to a sprint trip when seventh of 11 in handicap at Fairyhouse (6f, good) earlier in the month. Each-way claims from a good draw.

Form: 3-7937

(8)

Coincidental Glory¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Adam Caffrey| T: A McGuinness| OR: 65| D

12/1

Dundalk nursery winner in December and is holding form well, second of 15 at Navan (6f, good to firm) just over a fortnight ago. Yard's runners always command respect at this venue so he would be folly to discount.

Form: 504632

(10)

Dervo Annie¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rory Cleary| T: C O'Connell| OR: 63

14/1

Built on her Fairyhouse success at the second attempt when runner-up in a big-field 7f handicap there earlier in the month. Not so good at Killarney (1m, good) a fortnight ago so needs to bounce back.

Form: 721526

(3)

Imnotleavinyou^t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Wesley Joyce⁽³⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 61| D

25/1

Off the mark at Limerick last month and having run another good race when fifth of 18 at Fairyhouse earlier in the month, possibly found the race coming too soon just 2 days on at Bellewstown (1m, good) last time. Others more appealing.

Form: 291550

(15)

Coolshine⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Crosse| T: K A Heffernan| OR: 60

100/1

Well held in maidens at up to 1m but best not judged on his handicap debut when upped markedly in trip (hampered twice). Stiff task in this company and stall 15 only adds to the difficulty.

Form: 9009

(4)

Unfamiliar⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Chris Hayes| T: K Smith| OR: 56| D

14/1

Left previous efforts well behind when opening account in 13-runner handicap at Limerick (7f, good to soft) last month, crucially getting first run on the placed pair. 3 lb out of the weights here but shouldn’t be underestimated from a handy draw.

Form: 888851

Forecasts

Dancing Saxon (11/8), Expert Dancer (11/2), Motta Alta (13/2), Coincidental Glory (10/1), Sagasti (10/1), Nazario (10/1), Girl Bear (16/1), Caitouna (16/1), Unfamiliar (20/1), Templenoe (20/1), Final Boss (33/1), Slight Of Foot (33/1), Imnotleavinyou (33/1), Dervo Annie (33/1), Coolshine (100/1)

Joseph O'Brien has his string in fine order at present and it's hard to escape the claims of DANCING SAXON, who was narrowly denied a hat-trick upped to listed level at Naas last week and is very well-in given she's due to go up 16 lb in future handicaps. Sagasti ran a cracker when runner-up at Dundalk recently, so she can provide most resistance, with Motta Alta and Nazario another couple fancied to be in the mix.