19:40 Galway

Friday 31 July 2026

All17:0017:3018:0018:3519:1019:4020:1020:40

Arthur Guinness Handicap

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 1m 52.52s

(3)

Casamorati¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Julian Pietropaolo⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 70

28/1

Wasn't given a hard time in maidens over the spring but was friendless in the betting and ran poorly at Killarney on handicap debut earlier in the month.

Form: 6898

(16)

Only One Scobie³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: Luke McAteer| T: P W Flynn| OR: 70| D

16/1

Proved an entirely different proposition under a change of tactics when easily winning a 1m Leopardstown handicap last month and backed that up despite doing too much too soon when 2¾ lengths third of 12 to Meriden there a week later. Well beaten at Fairyhouse since, though.

Form: 600130

(10)

Sweet Baby Zou⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: J M Sheridan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 70| BF

13/2

Failed to meet expectations at Down Royal but turned out 3 days later (with cheekpieces on for first time) and produced a big career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Gowran (9.5f, good) early last month. Probably found his next outing coming too soon just 4 days later at Fairyhouse.

Form: 007810

(18)

Good Man Jack³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Robert Whearty| T: P Magee| OR: 69

18/1

Has stepped forward across each of his 3 starts in maidens without troubling the judge, most recently seventh of 13 at the Curragh (1m, good to firm, 250/1) 35 days ago. Makes handicap debut with yard going well, though high draw isn't ideal.

Form: 097

(20)

Hassaniya^p1,t1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Sean Davis| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 69

25/1

Encouraging fourth on second of 3 starts in maidens at the Curragh (1m, heavy) in March. Has matched that form when third in 2 handicaps since, most recently in a 6-runner event at Limerick (12.3f, good to firm) 20 days ago. Significantly back down in trip. Tongue strap/cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 8-4533

(15)

In The Gloaming^p1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-13| J: Gary Carroll| T: A Oliver| OR: 69

22/1

Best effort in maidens when 4 lengths fifth of 13 to Xerling in 5f event at Cork in June and ran to similar level when sixth of 15 on handicap debut at Navan (6f, good to firm, 16/1) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Not easy to make a case for going back up in trip.

Form: 0-556

(17)

Down The Glen⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: Shane Foley| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 68| C

17/2

Relished testing condittions when off the mark in good style here (7f) in October. Stepped up on his reappearance when fourth of 9 at Sligo (10.5f) in May but disappointing when down the field over 1m at Leoparstown since.

Form: 821-640

(6)

Mr Perth⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Billy Lee| T: M C Grassick| OR: 66

9/2

Not knocked about in 7f/1m maidens. Merits a betting check making handicap debut with Billy Lee booked, for all opening mark gives him a bit to find on form.

Form: 870

(12)

Tharaka^t³⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Leigh Roche| T: E Mullins| OR: 66

11/1

Fair form when in the frame on 3 of her 5 maiden outings for K. J. Condon last season. Returns from 10 months off here having been the subject of an eye-catching stable switch and she should do a fair bit better now handicapping.

Form: 03404-

(2)

Belle Nuit²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Chris Hayes| T: P Nolan| OR: 65

33/1

Offered something to work on in 7f maidens here on first 2 starts last year, before well held at the Curragh (1m, heavy) in November. Well beaten making handicap debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

Form: 540-0

(7)

Aquilla Star^p1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Siobhan Rutledge| T: J C McConnell| OR: 64

7/1

Ended her 2-y-o campaign with an improved second of 15 in nursery here (7f, heavy) in October. Stepped forward from her return when second of 9 in handicap at Ballinrobe (9.6f, good) 11 days ago, headed only in the dying strides. Shortlist material with cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 0072-72

(21)

Cosmic Funk^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Ronan Whelan| T: P J F Murphy| OR: 64

40/1

Found improvement when very good second of 13 in handicap at Leopardstown (soft) in June. Never better than mid-field on quicker ground there next time and was given far too much to do when fifth of 14 in claimer (9/2) at Killarney (1m, good) 16 days ago, Sports cheekpieces having left G. M. Lyons.

Form: 547275

(8)

John La Bear^t³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Coen| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 64| D

16/1

Stepped up on previous efforts when winning 11-runner handicap at Dundalk in December. Shaped as if he'd come on for the run after a 7-month break when seventh of 14 in handicap at Fairyhouse (8.7f, good) 30 days ago, unable to sustain effort. Might need a bit more in this more competitive affair.

Form: 00441-7

(5)

Jp's Express^p1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Wesley Joyce⁽³⁾| T: M Mulvany| OR: 64

10/3

Had looked to be going the wrong way prior to his strong-finishing third in a 14-runner handicap (33/1) at Fairyhouse (8.7f, good) 30 days ago. Ran quite well on debut here last season and should be in the mix if able to back last effort up.

Form: 56-6003

(9)

Snaafy¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Declan McDonogh| T: D Loughnane| OR: 64

16/1

Opened his account over 8.5f in a nursery at Wolverhampton in December and produced a couple of creditable efforts after. Proved at least as good as ever after a 6-month break when second of 7 in handicap at Pontefract (1m, good) 14 days ago. Respected back against fellow 3-y-os.

Form: 613-352

(1)

Aurora Mist^t1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Andrew Slattery| T: A Slattery| OR: 63| D

40/1

Inns of Court filly who stepped up on her return when getting off the mark in cosy fashion in a 14-runner handicap at Gowran (1m, good to soft) in May but went off an alarmingly big price and was never involved in a 14-runner claimer at Killarney (1m, good) 16 days ago. Now tongue tied.

Form: 554-710

(13)

Love Orchid^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Adam Caffrey| T: N Meade| OR: 63

16/1

In first-time blinkers, turned in best effort to date when 6¾ lengths sixth of 14 to Kirkland Sioux in handicap at Fairyhouse earlier this month and ran to a similar level when fourth of 14 in claimer (11/2) at Killarney (1m, good) 16 days ago. Frame claims from slighly-reduced mark.

Form: 64-5964

(4)

Priorstown⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: N G McCullagh| T: J P Murtagh| OR: 61

22/1

Signs of ability on debut at Navan. Well held both starts since but stable has good record with handicap debutants, for all this is a most-competitive environment. RESERVE.

Form: 607

Non-Runners

(19)

Femme Beauty³⁹

Weight: 9-13| Age: 3

T: Gerard O'Leary J: Danny O'Leary

(14)

Ella's Gold³¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: M J Smith J: Reserve 2

(11)

Dont Get Me Wrong³¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Gerard O'Leary J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Jp's Express (10/3), Mr Perth (9/2), Sweet Baby Zou (13/2), Aquilla Star (7/1), Femme Beauty (15/2), Ella's Gold (15/2), Down The Glen (17/2), Tharaka (11/1), Snaafy (16/1), Love Orchid (16/1), John La Bear (16/1), Only One Scobie (16/1), Good Man Jack (18/1), Priorstown (22/1), In The Gloaming (22/1), Hassaniya (25/1), Casamorati (28/1), Belle Nuit (33/1), Dont Get Me Wrong (33/1), Cosmic Funk (40/1), Aurora Mist (40/1)

AQUILLA STAR ran really well when collared late at Ballinrobe 11 days ago and a repeat performance should see her go close. Tharaka is a very interesting handicap debutant having joined the Emmet Mullins yard, whilst JP's Express is also interesting on the back of his fast-finishing Fairyhouse third.