19:50 Galway

Monday 27 July 2026

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

Gra Chocolates Handicap

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 2m 53.95s

(1)

Madbadanddangerous³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Colin Keane| T: N Meade| OR: 89

11/2

Maiden winner who was beaten only by another unexposed rival at Leopardstown in April. Clearly amiss next time but was back on the up when landing a 9-runner handicap at Down Royal (13f, soft, 18/1) 37 days ago. Respected up 6 lb.

Form: 213-271

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(6)

Confused^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 88

16/1

Built on a promising debut to win a 15-runner maiden at Gowran (9.5f, good) last month but easy to back and only fourth of 5 in minor event at Navan (1¼m, good to firm) 16 days ago. Up in trip for handicap debut with cheekpieces on.

Form: 414

(5)

Themis¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 88| D

11/2

Sottsass filly who left her previous efforts well behind faced with a greater test of stamina when landing 12-runner Limerick maiden (12.3f) in June before following up in a 6-runner handicap at the same C&D (good to firm) 16 days ago, forging clear after leading over 1f out. Up 14 lb but respected.

Form: 0-70911

(3)

Sir Benji²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Gary Carroll| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 85

12/1

Cosily landed 13-runner maiden at Navan (1¼m, heavy) on debut and stepped up from that performance when 5¾ lengths third of 5 in auction event at Roscommon (10.5f) in May. Below form dropped to 7f at Naas 3 weeks ago but opening mark seems to ask plenty going up significantly in trip.

Form: 135

(10)

Sharkeyboy^p1⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Billy Lee| T: W P Mullins| OR: 84

7/1

Ran well both starts in maidens in the autumn, denied on the nod at Leopardstown. Below that level after 8 months off when fifth of 15 to Confused at Gowran (9.5f, good) 56 days ago. Remains with potential upped to a trip that should suit on handicap debut and has first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 52-5

(14)

Darius Dark^p³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Coen| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 82| D

11/1

Progressive sort who followed up his gambled-on handicap debut success with a solid victory at Leopardstown and completed the hat-trick (with headgear applied) in a 14-runner event at the Curragh (1½m, good to firm). That form is working out well and he can improve again.

Form: 09-0111

(12)

So Must I^p¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shay Wallace⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 80

25/1

Winner at Dundalk in February. Creditable fourth in 11f handicap at Sligo in May and was back to form after a tilt in listed company when filling the same position in a 9-runner handicap at Killarney 2 weeks ago. Didn't get the best of trips there and she holds each-way claims.

Form: 616444

(8)

Admiral Will Brown¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Wesley Joyce⁽³⁾| T: P Magee| OR: 78

20/1

Barely bettered modest form in 4 starts for Daniel McLoughlin but displayed a potent turn of foot to score from 5 lb out of the weights in an 11-runner Navan handicap (1¼m, good to firm, 10/1) 16 days ago. Carries 14 lb more in a better race here, though.

Form: 877-71

(15)

Nermal²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 78

12/1

Steadily progressive in maidens (placed 3 of 4 starts) and took another small step forward to make a winning handicap debut at Roscommon (10 ran, 10.3f, good to soft) 4 weeks ago, beating Vantage Code by 2½ lengths. Can keep going the right way now up in trip.

Form: 52231

(13)

Nod Of Approval³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Keithen Kennedy⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 75

10/1

Shaped well behind Darius Dark when second at Cork in April (third also won next time) but didn't get home over a markedly longer trip at Limerick (17f) next time. Back to form when 1½ lengths fifth of 14 to Darius Dark in handicap at the Curragh (1½m, good to firm) 31 days ago and isn't ruled out.

Form: 55-6205

(9)

Misty Cove¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Robert Whearty| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 74

66/1

Inns of Court filly who cosily made all on her handicap debut at Sligo in May but disappointing next time. Offered a little bit to work on when fifth of 12 in a Killarney juvenile hurdle 10 days ago. Others make more appeal here.

Form: 4-310

(7)

Fits Perfect⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J M Sheridan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 73

12/1

Well-bred gelding finished down the field in maidens in October and shaped as if better for the run when twelfth of 15 on handicap debut at Limerick (1m, good to soft) on return in April. Has been crying out for this longer trip and any positive market vibes would be notable.

Form: 509-0

(4)

Ryefield Dasher²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Nicola Burns⁽⁵⁾| T: T Gibney| OR: 71

16/1

Showed fair form at best as a juvenile but has finished well held in 2 handicaps this season. Gelded since his last outing and looks opposable again up in trip.

Form: 045-60

(11)

Vantage Code²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: E Mullins| OR: 69

10/3

Well backed and showed much improved form when 2½ lengths second of 10 to Nermal in handicap at Roscommon (10.3f, good to soft, 5/1) 27 days ago. Respected up in distance.

Form: 667-072

(2)

Solas Na Gealai³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: N G McCullagh| T: J S Bolger| OR: 67

22/1

Cost only €2,000 as a yearling and finished soundly beaten in 3 maidens last month. Makes handicap debut from out of the weights.

Form: 778

Forecasts

Vantage Code (10/3), Madbadanddangerous (11/2), Themis (11/2), Sharkeyboy (7/1), Nod Of Approval (10/1), Darius Dark (11/1), Nermal (12/1), Fits Perfect (12/1), Sir Benji (12/1), Ryefield Dasher (16/1), Confused (16/1), Admiral Will Brown (20/1), Solas Na Gealai (22/1), So Must I (25/1), Misty Cove (66/1)

DARIUS DARK is progressing rapidly and with his most recent win looking strong form again, he's fancied to notch his fourth success on the bounce. Nermal is highly respected after making a winning handicap debut, with Fits Perfect a very intriguing runner upped in trip for Joseph O'Brien.