2026 Cheltenham & Navan Sunday

Saturday was a rubbish day for us. The first thing I’d like to mention is the farcical ground description of good to yielding at Navan. Maybe it was before they put half the Boyne, half the Blackwater and all of the Skane onto it.

Game Point hated the conditions but at least the ‘winter horses’ were happy, eh... To rub salt into the wound, Casheldale Lad finished third but due to a non-runner, only two places got paid.

As for our Cheltenham bets..not much better. I thought Riskintheground jumped and travelled beautifully but he then stopped like he was shot and was pulled up. Afterwards, it was reported he burst. Just our luck. William Yeats was backed off the boards and as they jumped the last, it looked like he was going to win. The gutsy Black Bamboo (never thought I'd write those words) pulled out more though and held off his challenge. Very frustrating for our 14/1 NAP.

Finally, poor Give Him A Chance sadly went wrong behind jumping the last hurdle and sustained a fatal injury. Condolences to his connections.

The show must go on, however, and my 2026 Cheltenham & Navan Sunday selections are below.

1.50 Navan – Tara Handicap Hurdle (130 = 11st 12lb)

The last time Alan O’Sullivan rode Sequoiaspirit he won by 6.5l at Roscommon in June (2m4f, yld-sft) off 115. The last time Sequoiaspirit ran over hurdles at Navan, he won this race off 114. It is hard to believe that this will be his first run over C&D since, and he pitches up off a mark of 120.

At Killarney last summer this son of Mainsail was beaten 0.5l off 120 under a senior rider and he’s going to be effectively 5lb lower here thanks to O’Sullivan’s claim. Now, it must be said that he has to rebound from two poor runs over timber and one on the Flat, but it was good ground for all three of those races and he’s likely to get his favoured softer conditions here.

With odds of 33/1 and five places available, Sequoiaspirit is the e/w selection.

2026 Cheltenham & Navan Sunday Tip: Sequoiaspirit e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

3.00 Navan – Troytown Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

As a big Tom Gibney enthusiast, I was very keen on Kinturk Kalanisi here. However, when I watched Game Point struggle on the ground there today, it cooled my interest. He’s produced his best form on decent ground and with 10mm of rain forecast overnight, I have decided to look elsewhere.

Gibney also runs Intense Raffles, who will love it if conditions turn very testing. However, his form when fresh is not good so I can’t have him either.

Gordon Elliott has a heap of runners here and he’s won three of the last five renewals. The one of his I am going to take a punt on, despite the fact he was well held in this race last season off 5llb lower, is the Gigginstown owned 9yo son of Fame And Glory, Search For Glory.

James Smith, who rode this horse to finish second in valuable handicaps here and at Leopardstown last season, is on board and takes off a valuable 3lb. He was also on board when Search For Glory was coming with what looked like a winning run in the Ultima at Cheltenham. However, he sprawled on landing after jumping the last and unseated Smith in heartbreaking fashion.

On his final start of last season Search For Glory was pulled up in the Irish National and after that, he headed off for his summer holidays. While this lad struggled in this race on his first run back last season, his previous seasonal reappearances have yielded form figures of 111 so clearly, he is capable of running well when fresh. He ticks the course form box, he handles soft ground and with odds of 28/1 on offer, Search For Glory is worth backing e/w.

2026 Cheltenham & Navan Sunday Tip: Search For Glory e/w @ 28/1 (5 places)

3.10 Cheltenham – Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier)

Last month I tweeted that Morning Mayhem was one to keep an eye on next time out after he caught my eye on his last start at Ascot. In that race he was still travelling sweetly on the inside as they turned for home but he got shuffled back to the rear of the field on the turn and by the time he found daylight, the race was more or less over.

However, he ran on really well in the closing stages to finish seventh, 5.25l behind the winner, and I have no doubt that if he had enjoyed a clearer run, he would have finished much closer than that. He runs off the same mark here so if he repeats that run, hopefully he’ll be there or thereabouts at the finish.

Worry

The main worry I have for this selection is the fact that he’s basically been on the go without a proper break since his debut in a Clonmel bumper back in May 2025. It’s not something you see very often but he must be the type that thrives on his racing.

That last run at Ascot two weeks ago demonstrated that he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm yet and while the 66s that was available yesterday has gone, at odds of 33/1 Morning Mayhem is still worth backing e/w.

2026 Cheltenham & Navan Sunday Tip: Morning Mayhem e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

-DaveStevos

Tinto Looks A Tasty Bet At Naas

This is a really tricky stage of the year for punters. Most NH races are filled with horses making their seasonal reappearances and it can be difficult to predict which ones are fit, and which ones will need the run. That’s my excuse anyway…

At Naas today the Brown Lad handicap hurdle is the race of the day and there’s a fair few in the 21 runner field that are making their seasonal returns. One horse that shouldn’t be lacking for fitness is the Yvonne Latta trained Tinto De Verano and he’s a horse that I think could be progressive over hurdles this year.

He’s a homebred half-brother to Thisistheway, a horse we backed at big odds when he finished second in this year’s Galway Hurdle. I put Tinto up for the Racing Post’s ‘40 to follow’ in The Big Jump Off supplement and my reason for doing so was because I thought he had some wriggle room off his opening handicap mark of 123.

He finished off last season with two excellent runs. He was beaten 3l into third behind Quinta De Lago (fifth in the Fred Winter off 128) at Punchestown in April and he was conceding 2lb to that rival. Quinta is now rated 138 after winning a rated hurdle at Fairyhouse this week.

Tinto went on to prove that was no fluke by absolutely bolting up in a Ballinrobe maiden hurdle on his next start. That form has admittedly taken a few knocks but he could only beat what was in front of him. It turned out to be his last start of the campaign and afterwards, he headed off on his summer holidays.

Listed Novice

Latta ran her charge in a 21.5f Listed novice hurdle on his seasonal return at Limerick three weeks ago and he came home in fourth, 11l behind the winner Tountinna. Now, you could say that was a disappointing run but to my eye, it looked like he was badly in need of the run and he should be much fitter now. As an added bonus, the handicapper has dropped him 1lb to 122.

Now, I usually don’t like tipping handicap debutants but this horse has already run in a very competitive race at Punchestown and while it was a smaller field than this, I am hoping that experience will stand to him. I think eventually, this horse will stay 3m but for now, a stiff 2m4f at Naas should suit and he’ll no issues on the good to yielding ground. My main worry is will he be as effective going left handed but he did run okay in a bumper at Leopardstown so hopefully, he'll be okay.

Even if he doesn’t win this, or go close, I am convinced this horse has the ability to rate a fair chunk higher than his current mark. So, if things don’t go his way this afternoon, we will hopefully get our money back later in the season. If the ground stays on the decent side, maybe he’ll head for the Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown in a couple of weeks.

Either way, I’ll be backing Tinto De Verano on his next few starts, and while my decision to wait until this morning to tip him in the hope of a drift hasn’t worked out, I am still going to take 9/1. He might still drift before the off and we’ll get best odds guaranteed if he does.

2026 Naas Brown Lad Hurdle Tip: Tinto De Verano e/w @ 9/1 (5 places)

-DaveStevos

2026 Melbourne Cup Tip

Saint George – 22nd in 2024; Alenquer – 21st in 2023; Interpretation – Pulled Up in 2022; The Chosen One – 5th in 2021; Mustajeer – 19th in 2020; That is my roll call of shame in the Melbourne Cup. I didn’t even bother putting a horse up for the race that stops a nation last year, hopefully the break might spark a change of luck for my 2026 Melbourne Cup tip. I won’t be holding my breath.

Europeans To The Fore

As ever, European bred horses are to the fore in the 2026 Melbourne Cup market. Point Of Law, a Frankel colt that was bred by King Charles III, is at the head of the market. Trustyourinstinct, trained by Joseph O’Brien and owned by JP McManus is next best in the betting, closely followed by the George Boughey trained Hopewell Rock.

However, at a bigger price, I think Zakouma might be capable of a bold show for Grahame Begg and jockey William Pike. He’s a 6yo gelding by Crowded House, a British stallion, but his dam is by Zabeel, one of New Zealand’s premier stallions, and she is a full sister to G1 winners Zabeelionaire and Gandoroko, so the pedigree is there.

Festival Form

Zakouma’s day in the sun came at last year’s spring carnival when he booked his ticket to the big one by winning the Andrew Ramsden Plate, a 1m6f Listed contest. Produced late by Jordan Child, he stayed on strongly to win by 0.75l and the further he went, the better he looked.

That proved he acts around this track and ever since then, surely he’s been campaigned with this race in mind. This year he’s had two runs over 1m, which he finished fairly well held in, but it was much better in a 1m2f G3 handicap and a 1m4f Group 2, both at Caulfield, where he was beaten 1.75l into sixth in the former race (denied a clear run) and just 2.25l into fifth in the latter.

I think it is very easy to forgive his below par run at Flemington over 1m ten days ago and he now steps back up to what should be a much more suitable trip. With five places on offer from a couple of firms, Zakouma gets the e/w vote for the 2026 Melbourne Cup at odds of 25/1. 

2026 Melbourne Cup Tip: Zakouma e/w @ 25/1 (5 places)

-DaveStevos

Ghost Can Give Rivals A Scare At Aintree

We landed two nice places earlier today. Giant Sequioa won the Futurity easily but we landed the place money at 14s with Gran Dia. I thought it was a cracking run on just his second career start and he could be a Derby horse next year. Love Of Neymore also kept on well to nick fifth at Cheltenham at 20s and I think another Robbie Llewellyn horse might be worth backing at Aintree on Sunday.

The Gray Ghost, a 7yo son of Doyen, has won a maiden and a handicap over hurdles, both at Newcastle. The handicap win came in February off 117 over 2m1f on good to soft ground and he runs off a mark of 120 here.

Unlike Love Of Neymore, this horse has already had a run this season. He finished second on his chase debut in a three-runner beginners’ at Uttoxeter three weeks ago and he split horses rated 137. How the handicapper has left his mark of 120 alone after that, I’m not sure and I think he can run well off that rating in his first handicap chase.

The going at Aintree is currently described as good to soft but there was a lot of rain today and more forecast tomorrow. The Gray Ghost has never won on soft but he ran well on it when fourth at both Ascot and Ayr last year so he should be okay, although I’d be a bit concerned if it turns bottomless.

This lad ran respectably over hurdles on his only previous visit to Merseyside and bar Un Sens A Vie, he’s the only horse with a run under his belt coming into this. I think odds of 18/1 look far too big about The Gray Ghost and he looks a cracking e/w bet.

1.50 Aintree Tip: The Gray Ghost e/w @ 18/1 NAP

-DaveStevos

2026 Irish Champions Festival E/W Lucky 15

We kept things ticking over last weekend with Popmaster (16s) and our e/w NAP Pole Star (14s) both placing. On another day we might have had three but Lord d’Or (40s) enjoyed a luckless passage, beaten 1.5l for the win and missing out on a place by 0.5l. We have fantastic racing this weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh and I have found four horses for a 2026 Irish Champions Festival E/W Lucky 15 (and four e/w singles).

It probably makes sense to wait until tomorrow before placing the bet as extra places will be on offer for the two Sunday tips.

Weather Watch

As things stand, the ground has dried out to ‘good’ at Leopardstown and it is good to yielding at the Curragh. I’d imagine, looking at the forecast, it’ll be good ground with a very slight ease at both venues this weekend.

Saturday

2.10 Leopardstown – Sovereign Path Handicap (Premier)

Earlier in the season I was convinced Tokenomics was going to win a pattern race this year. After a rather unlucky fourth in a 1m (yld-sft) Listed race here when beaten 2.5l into fourth by The Lion In Winter (rated 117), he ran another cracker to chase home Catalina Delcarpio in another 1m Listed race here on good ground, this time beaten 1.25l for the win.

I think after those two runs, David Marnane decided that he was better off trying to win a big handicap with his son of The Grey Gatsby and the way he was ridden in his last two runs, in a Listed at the Curragh and a G3 here, suggested that connections had another day in mind.

Eased 3lb

As a result of those two latest efforts, Tokenomics has been eased 3lb to a mark of 101, just 3lb higher than he was when winning at Dundalk back in November. This will be his first run over 7f this season and once they go a strong gallop, he should be fine. He’s had six runs over this distance in his career and the last five have produced form figures of 11122.

He’s ground versatile, he likes the track and while he does have to carry a lot of weight, he may well have the class to cope. Hopefully the draw gods are kind. At odds of 20/1, Tokenomics is the e/w selection.

2026 Irish Champions Festival Tip: Tokenomics e/w @ 20/1 (5 places)

3.15 Leopardstown – Kilternan Stakes (Group 3)

Purview is going to be a short enough price for this 1m4f G3 and Dermot Weld’s son of Kingman deserves to be favourite. His stamina for 1m4f is not in doubt and he showed his versatility by dropping back to 1m2f to land a G3 at the Curragh last time. A slight ease in the ground is absolutely fine for him and he’ll also have the assistance of Colin Keane in the saddle.

Bar him, this looks pretty open and at much bigger odds, perhaps Asakir can run well for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen. By the upwardly mobile Zarak, this Aga Khan gelding’s grand-dam is a close relative to the top class 1m4f performer Azamour.

Promising Start

After a promising start at the Curragh (1m2f, sft-hvy) in March, Asakir got off the mark in a 1m2f maiden at this track the following month on yielding to soft. Murtagh stepped him up to 1m5f (yielding) in a Listed heat at Navan on his next start and he lost no caste in defeat behind Limestone, still looking a touch green when asked for maximum effort and going down by just 1.25l.

Things didn’t go as well at Royal Ascot on his first try at 1m6f but I am putting a line through that. I’m not sure he stayed the trip and I’m almost certain he didn’t relish the rattling quick ground.

He’s been freshened up since and the fact that Murtagh is persisting in pattern company rather than going down the handicap route suggests he still rates Asakir pretty highly. Once there is no firm in the ground description, he can outrun his odds of 33/1 and hopefully sneak into the money.

2026 Irish Champions Festival Tip: Asakir e/w @ 33/1

Sunday

1.45 Curragh – Bold Lad Sprint Handicap (Premier)

In 2021 we backed Big Gossey to win this at 40s. Last year, I put Tango Flare up for this race at 25s and he bolted up at 50s. It has been a profitable race for us and I am going to keep the faith in Tango Flare in this year’s renewal.

Trained by Pat Foley, he’s 7lb higher than when winning last year. However, on his 0.75l second to Big Gossey in a C&D Listed race here in June and also on his short head defeat of Gazelle d’Or, to whom he was giving 5lb, at Fairyhouse in June (more about the runner up later), I think he can be competitive off his current mark of 98.

Yard In Form

Pat Foley had a nice winner at Cork earlier this week so there are no concerns about the well-being of his string and Tango Flare will have zero issues on the ground on Sunday (once it doesn’t piss rain). Given his mark, I’m hoping connections might enlist the services of a claimer to ride the son of Fulbright and Rory Mulligan had a sighter on him earlier this season in the Habitat over C&D, so it might be him.

Odds of 20/1 look more than fair to me, hopefully he gets a decent draw and the rain stays away.

2026 Irish Champions Festival Tip: Tango Flare e/w @ 20/1

3.25 Curragh – Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)

We were a whisker away from landing a 66-1 winner in this race in 2023 with Get Ahead. I like another filly at monstrous odds this weekend and she is trained on the Curragh by Michael Grassick.

With an official rating of 94, this daughter of Equiano should have no chance. However, similar sentiments applied to Love Dynasty (who was then rated 96) heading into the Atalanta Stakes at Sandown a couple of weeks ago and she won for us at 40/1.

Black Type Filly

I’ve been keeping an eye on this filly for a long time, but I’m almost sure this is the first chance I’ve had to tip her.

Her win here last September when she beat Kendall Roy over C&D (yld-sft) convinced me she was a black-type performer and she proved me right in a Listed heat at Naas in May (5f, good) when she ran a cracker to finish a 1.5l second behind Mission Central off level weights. The Ballydoyle horse went on to win the King Charles at Royal Ascot on his next start and is now rated 113.

C&D Winner

Gazelle d’Or has been beaten twice since then, but 6f at Fairyhouse and 5f at Cork may not have been her bag. She has won three times at the Curragh (twice over C&D) and the key to this filly is a strongly run race, and she looks almost certain to get that here.   

My hope is that they’ll ride her quietly out the back and try to come late to nick some G1 black type. At odds of 100/1, it is worth chancing that the plan comes together.

2026 Irish Champions Festival Tip: Gazelle d’Or e/w @ 100/1

-DaveStevos

2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Preview

What a start. Stormy Impact never got into the race while our NAP Stardom Glory, who was unproven at the trip, tried to make all. The mind boggles. I thought Zaydann was coming to win his race but his run flattened out in the last 1f and Kilmeaden was given a ride for the ages in the staying handicap.  We try again on Day 2, check out his 2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday previews and tips below.

1.50 – Lowther Stakes (Group 2)

Based on what we saw in the opening race on Day 1, a low draw is preferable. That’s a pity, because when I looked at this race ante-post, I thought Crystal Queen was an absolutely insane price. However, she has been drawn in stall 19 so I am a bit hesitant to stick her up.

Should I stick to my guns, or look elsewhere? Well, given her wide draw and the fact that easy ground is an unknown, the percentage call is to leave her alone. Hopefully I don’t live to regret that decision.

The insanely dry weather we have had this summer means that nearly all of these have to prove they handle an ease in the ground. One that doesn’t is the Clive Cox trained filly Miss Kodi. She made her debut on good to soft ground at Chepstow in June and absolutely bolted up by 7l and she had two subsequent multiple winners behind.

On her next start Cox stepped her up in class in the G3 Japan Cup Stakes at Ascot. She finished fifth behind Moonrise but she was only 1.5l behind the winner (12/1 here) and just 0.5l behind Velozee, who finished just 1.75l behind Sun Goddess in a Curragh G1 on her next outing.  

Miss Kodi did swish her tail when Ryan gave her a couple of smacks at Ascot but she didn’t lose any momentum and to my eye, she ran through the line well. She hasn’t got to improve that much to get closer to Moonrise and on this easier ground, she might well turn the tables. With odds of 33/1 on offer, Miss Kodi is the each way pick.

2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Miss Kodi e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)

2.25 – Goffs’ Harry’s Half Million (Class 2)

A monster pot on offer here and a maximum field of 22 go to post. I have a dire record in these sales’ races and to be brutally honest, it is very difficult to get away from the claims of Sun Goddess. Already a G2 and G1 winner, her draw probably isn’t ideal and she’s unproven on slow ground but her dam is related to plenty of soft ground winners and Sioux Nation’s progeny can handle an ease (like Matilda Picotte) so she will probably be fine.

Clive Cox has won the last three renewals so Satellite Of Love has to be feared. He’s rated 90, so he’s 24lb inferior to the jolly, but he’s 2/2 and who knows what his ceiling might be.

Bigger Odds

The one that appeals most at bigger odds is the Adrian Keatley trained Thebesthasyetocome. By Starman, this colt was a shade disappointing over 5f at Thirsk (good) on debut but stepping up to 6f on soft ground at Ayr showed him in a much better light.

In that race he came under the pump pretty early and I’d imagine he traded fairly high in running around 2f from home. Even 1f out it looked like he might struggle to win but it seemed like the penny suddenly dropped inside the final furlong and he absolutely powered clear to win by over 3 lengths.

Obviously, this is a much deeper race but he’ll love the bit of cut in the ground and he’s got a nice draw in stall 2. My fear is that 6f at York might be a bit sharp for him but he should be finishing stronger than most and he’s got G2 and G1 entries over 7f so clearly, he’s well thought of at home. With odds of 33/1 on offer, Thebesthasyetocome is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.

2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Thebesthasyetocome e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)

3.00 – Grand Finale Handicap (Heritage)

We have already had a bet on Cerulean Bay in his heritage handicap and my reasoning can be read here. He shouldn’t have any issues on the rain softened ground, he’s got an acceptable draw in stall 9 and I’ll stick with him.

2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Cerulean Bay already advised e/w @ 20/1

3.35 – Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1)

Kalpana is the favourite for this 1m4f G1 and justifiably so on the back of her fantastic win at Royal Ascot. However, her best recent form is on rattling quick ground so these softer conditions are a concern, though she did win on soft back in 2024.

I fancied Sparan Nua to run a huge race in the Irish Oaks and considering how the race unfolded, she did very well to finish a 4.75l third behind Johanna Walsh and Inis Mor. On her next start Jim Bolger decided to drop back in trip to 1m at Leopardstown and the decision backfired as she could only manage fourth.

This trip is much more her bag and she has won on good to yielding, so the ground here should be fine for her. Interestingly, Jim Bolger won this with a filly called Pleascach back in 2015 and she had a pretty similar prep. After running a huge race to finish a 1l second in the Ribblesdale at Ascot over 1m4f, he dropped her back to 1m2f with no success on her next start at the Curragh before stepping back up to 1m4f and winning this. Hopefully Sparan Nua follows in her hoofsteps at odds of 28/1.  

2026 York Ebor Festival Thursday Tip: Sparan Nua e/w @ 28/1

-DaveStevos

2026 Galway & Goodwood Thursday Preview

I can only laugh at this stage. Another blank day on Wednesday, but to be fair we did at least get half decent run for our money with Zavateri, who might have placed with a clearer run. Sea And Sun will win soon, possibly when upped in trip. Havana Pusey wasn’t good enough, Cornmarket’s run baffled me, especially as he was seemingly well backed (25s into 9s), and Buddy One didn’t jump anywhere well enough, albeit he wasn’t ‘that’ far off placing.

It would be easy for me to just naff the blog off after what has happened in the last few weeks but I’m not giving up hope just yet. Hopefully, when we emerge from this tunnel of shit, like Andy Dufresene in the Shawshank Redemption, it’ll be worth the wait. Also. I’d like to thank those that are somehow still reading my previews and haven't given me any abuse, please god your loyalty will be rewarded.

1.50 Goodwood – Kincsem Handicap (Heritage)

The 1m course winner and last time out Ascot scorer Ciarrai Abu will rightly be popular in this 1m2f handicap. However, I will take a punt on the horse that finished a 4.75l fourth behind him at Ascot last time, the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Loz Vegas.

This fella has been far from disgraced in three handicap runs this term. After keeping on for a midfield finish on his return at Newbury over 1m, he finished fast for a 1.5l fifth of 13 at Newbury off 88. He gave me the impression in that race that he was the sort of horse that might enjoy weaving his way through traffic and at Goodwood, he’ll almost certainly have to do that.

Ciarrai Abu did beat him well at Ascot but he’s 8lb better off now and while his sire’s best form was at 6f-1m, there is enough stamina on the dam side of his pedigree to suggest he should stay 1m2f. At odds of 22/1, Loz Vegas is the e/w selection.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Thursday Tip: Loz Vegas e/w @ 22/1 (4 places)

4.10 Goodwood – Buccellati Handicap (Class 3)

I would have been all over River Spey here if this race was over 6f but I’m not too sure this sort of test will suit him. In the end, I decided to side with the Gemma Tutty trained filly, Call Margot.

This daughter of Blue Point ran a poor race on her latest start at Hamilton, but that was on good to soft ground. The run may have come too soon after a superb effort at Epsom on her previous start 12 days earlier in the Epsom 3yo Dash.

Tutty has freshened this filly up with a nice 43-day break and on that Epsom run, when she was waiting for room for over a furlong before squeezing through and just failing to reel in the winner Naana’s Shadow, she has to have a huge chance here. And also, with Ashley Lewis’ claim, she is effectively 1lb lower here. At odds of 22/1, Call Margot will do for me.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Thursday Tip: Call Margot e/w @ 22/1 (5 places) NAP

2.10 Galway – Nursery Handicap (80 = 9st 12lb)

Mick Mulvany sent out juveniles to finish third in this race in 2024 and 2023 and his handicap debutant Banks Of The Boyne might run a nice race for him here. By Space Traveller, this gelding looked of little account on his first two runs in maidens at Fairyhouse and Roscommon.

However, he produced a much better effort back at Fairyhouse three weeks ago, making a bold bid and keeping on well over 6f for a 0.5l second at odds of 100/1. The winner of that race, Nail House, wasn’t beaten far in a Leopardstown G3 on his next start and the fourth, La Tache, went on to win a Curragh maiden and is now rated 88. The fifth, City Of Gold, ran well to finish second in a maiden here earlier this week too, so the form has substance.

Now, the assessor hasn’t taken any chances with this gelding’s mark, pitching him in at 81. That being said, given how the form of that last run has worked out, he may still have some wriggle room and there’s a bit of stamina on the dam side of his page so there’s every chance he could do even better over 7f.

I’m sure connections would prefer to be coming here with a 10lb or 15lb lower mark but even off 81, Banks Of The Boyne can hopefully sneak into the money at odds of 12/1.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Thursday Tip: Banks Of The Boyne e/w @ 12/1

4.30 Galway – Guinness Galway Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)

Thisistheway is a mare that relishes nice ground and I am hoping she can build on an excellent effort in a valuable handicap hurdle at Bellewstown 26 days ago. Trained by Yvonne Latta, this horse has won three of her ten starts over hurdles and all three of her wins have come on right-handed tracks.

Her biggest day in the sun came at the 2025 Punchestown Festival when she won a 44k auction series final race over 2m3f on yielding. This season, she’s been third in a Listed hurdle at Limerick over a trip that stretched her and she then ran a massive race in a premier handicap at Leopardstown’s Xmas meeting, beaten 3.5l into second over 20.5f (gd-yld).

In May, she was making headway when falling three out in a listed handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20.5f, yielding) and then last time, she ran a really pleasing race after a two-month break at Bellewstown. I think she could be very well suited by a strongly run race on a track like Galway and she’ll surely be trying her very best for her small yard.

With Michael Kennelly’s claims she’s effectively 4lb lower than when third at Bellewstown last time, her career form figures going right-handed over hurdles read 1113F, so at odds of 40/1 Thisistheway is the each way selection.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Thursday Tip: Thisistheway e/w @ 40/1 (6 places)

-DaveStevos

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Preview

Three bets on Monday, three more losers. At least I’m consistent. The first two selections, Inchiquin Star and Unfamiliar, ran absolute stinkers. Utter dogshit. So Must I did actually run well, but was too far back and couldn’t get into the money. My two bets on Tuesday were dire too. We go again on Wednesday at Galway and Glorious Goodwood, god help connections of whoever I tip up.

1.50 Goodwood – Coral Shakers Handicap (Class 2)

In normal circumstances, I am usually very reluctant to tip handicap debutants but I think it might be worth taking a chance on Sea And Sun here. Trained by Charlie Johnston, this son of Sea The Moon is the rank outsider here but he has shown enough in his three qualifying runs to suggest he can win races.

His best effort yet came on latest at Doncaster (1m4f, gd-fm) in a valuable novice (for which he was 50/1) and he displayed a willing attitude to stay on late for a 5l fourth of 8 behind Hatteen, who is the 5/2 fav here. They were racing off level weights that day and Charlie Johnston’s charge is now 8lb better off so theoretically, he should get much closer to that rival here.

The booking of Silvestre De Sousa is another cause for optimism. He’s had 67 rides for Charlie Johnston, firing in 8 winners and finishing in the first four on a total of 28 occasions, a frame hitting strike-rate of over 50%. Johnston also runs the hat-trick seeker Parisian Scholar here, so no doubt he’ll probably win now but I’ll take my chances with Sea And Sun at odds of 33/1.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Sea And Sun e/w @ 33/1

3.00 Goodwood – Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3)

We backed Havana Pusey in a handicap at Newmarket last time out. She could only manage seventh after falling out of the stalls and that wasn’t the first time that has happened her. However, she did actually run well in that race given the circumstances and if she breaks better here, she is no forlorn hope.

John Gallagher is sticking a hood and a tongue tie on the 6yo daughter of Havana Grey today so maybe, the new headgear combo might just sharpen her up at the gate. We know she can compete at this level, as she was a 1.75l third in a Lingfield G3 back in May and while she was beaten in this last year, it was her ninth start of the season and this time, she arrives on the back of five runs.

Another positive is the fact that she is a previous C&D winner (a handicap last year off 87) and she’ll have no issues on the quick ground today. Now, if she blows the start as badly as she did last time, she has no chance here but if she can get away to even a half-decent start, Havana Pusey could outrun her odds of 50/1.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Havana Pusey e/w @ 50/1 (4 places)

4.10 Goodwood – Sussex Stakes (Group 1)

An excellent turnout for today’s feature with a dozen declared and Bow Echo is 5/4 to extend his unbeaten record to six. Gstaad, who he defeated by a short head last time at Ascot, is next best in the betting but the one that looks most overpriced in here is a horse that beat Gstaad at the Curragh last year, Zavateri.

Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, I’m very surprised to see this horse chalked up at 25/1. The son of Without Parole was an outstanding juvenile, whose four wins included one in a G2 here over 7f, so there are no concerns regarding him handling the track.

Yes, Zavateri was beaten in a Group 3 on his seasonal return at Newbury back in April but he might have needed that and the way he kept on suggested he was ready for the step up to 1m. He was due to try that trip in the 2000 Guineas but was ruled out of that race due to a minor setback. Maybe he might need this run too after a 102 day absence but if he’s fit, he shouldn’t be far away from Gstaad and seeing as that rival is a 100/30 shot here, Zavateri has to be worth chancing e/w at 25s. Hopefully he is ready to do himself justice.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Zavateri e/w @ 25/1

5.35 Galway – Tote Handicap Hurdle (110 = 11st 12lb)

Given the characteristics of the track, Sligo form often transfers well to Galway and Cornmarket, a three time winner at Sligo, might go well here at 14/1. Trained in Ballina in Mayo by John Cullen, this son of Elzaam was touched off at Sligo 17 days ago (25.5f) and he won’t mind this drop back to 2m6f.

He was an emphatic winner over 2m4f (good) at his beloved Sligo a year ago and while he runs off a career high mark of 105 here, he’s only 3lb higher than when going so close last time. He’s a prominent racer, so hopefully he’ll be able to avoid traffic problems and with odds of 14/1 on offer, Cornmarket is the each way selection.  

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Cornmarket e/w @ 14/1 (5 places)

6.40 Galway – Galway Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

I fancied the locally trained Buddy One to run big in this last year and he wasn’t disgraced in sixth. Yes, he was beaten 18.5l behind Western Fold but he made a bad mistake at the fourth last and only for that, he probably would have finished a good deal closer.

Since then, he has had just six runs, two of them coming over fences. He was soundly beaten in a handicap over this C&D in October on unsuitable ground and he was last of four behind Impaire Et Passe in a Gowran Grade 2, again on unsuitable ground.

Back in March he took his chance in the BetMGM Cup at Cheltenham (2m5f, gd-sft) and got outpaced before staying on into midfield. John Gilligan gave him a break after that okay run and he reappeared with a modest run on the Flat at Fairyhouse three weeks ago.

He should be sharper for that outing and he is back for another go in the Plate off 5lb lower than he was last year. He’ll get his favoured good ground here, he’s won over C&D before and I am delighted to see that Sean Flanagan takes over in the plate.

Looking at his recent form figures (66P40), it is understandable why he can be backed at 50s but he’s a classy horse on his day and given who trains him, surely he’s been trained for this race and he was sent off at just 15/2 in this last year. If he puts in a clear round of jumping, Buddy One can outrun his odds and is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.

2026 Galway & Goodwood Wednesday Tip: Buddy One e/w @ 50/1 (6 places)

-DaveStevos

2026 Galway Festival Monday Preview

Finding the motivation to write this preview wasn’t easy. Another blank day yesterday and this has probably now been the worst run since I started this job back in 2018. And this week we have Galway and Goodwood so things don’t get any easier. I’ll do my very best to try to find some winners but as you might imagine, confidence is at an all-time low but we live in hope.

5.40 – Iggy Daly Handicap Hurdle (110 = 11st 12lb)

A nice and easy start for us with this 16.5f handicap hurdle. The one that appeals most at a big price is the 7yo mare, Inchiquin Star. Trained by Terence O’Brien, it looks to me as though she may have been campaigned with this meeting in mind.

A dual-purpose sort, she is a three-time winner over hurdles and while she finished last season in poor form, she made a pretty encouraging debut for this stable at Listowel last month. She did jump a bit to the left at times but it looked like she would improve plenty for the run, just getting tired after jumping the last.

Terence O’Brien gave her another sharpener on the Flat at Tramore a few weeks ago so she certainly shouldn’t be lacking fitness now and she runs off 104, a pound lower than she was when last winning over hurdles at Wexford in October 2024.

She has run well on the Flat here before, which is why I think connections may have targeted this race and Micheal Kenneally, who takes off a valuable 5lb, has finished in the frame on four of his eight previous rides for this yard. Usually, this stable isn’t afraid to put the money down when they fancy one so hopefully there’s a few bob for this mare tomorrow. At odds of 40/1, Inchiquin Star is the e/w selection.

2026 Galway Festival Monday Tip: Inchiquin Star e/w @ 40/1 (5 places)

7.15 – Clayton Hotel Handicap (80 = 10st)

Back in March I tipped up Unfamiliar at Naas and while she didn’t win, she went into my notebook as one to follow. Her next two runs were poor, both on soft ground, but she showed signs of life over 6f on good ground at Fairyhouse when fifth and she finally got off the mark next time at Limerick, winning by a nostril over 7f on yielding.

The daughter of Phoenix Of Spain is effectively 7lb higher here (and 3lb wrong) but the fact that Kevin Smith, who had a winner on Day 1 of this meeting last year, isn’t using a claimer on her suggests he thinks there could still be a bit more to come from her.

The day she caught my eye at Naas she was held up and finished with a right rattle but she’s been ridden prominently the last twice and given her favourable draw here in stall 4, I’d imagine those tactics will be employed again. If she races as keenly as she did at Limerick last time, she probably won’t get home here but if Chris Hayes can get her to race evenly, hopefully Unfamiliar can hit the frame again at odds of 22/1 she is the e/w selection.

2026 Galway Festival Monday Tip: Unfamiliar e/w @ 22/1 (4 places)

7.50 – Gra Chocolates Handicap (90 = 10st)

Joseph O’Brien runs three here and on rider arrangements, it looks like Themis and Fits Perfect are his main hopes. However, I am going to take a punt on the ‘third string’, So Must I.

By Sottsass, this filly’s sole win came on the AW at Dundalk in February. After a short break she reappeared over 1m2f at Leopardstown in April and she ran a very decent race to finish a 5l sixth, outpaced before keeping on nicely enough in the closing stages.

On her next start at Sligo over 10.5f, a track with similar characteristics to Galway, she was denied a clear run before again staying on pretty well for a 4l fourth. It is easy to forgive her poor run in listed company on her penultimate start and she bounced back with a fine effort at Killarney on her first try over this sort of trip in a handicap.

Dropped out early, she absolutely flew home in the closing stages and I am hoping that she will relish the stiff uphill finish at Ballybrit. At odds of 25/1, back So Must I e/w.

2026 Galway Festival Monday Tip: So Must I e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)

-DaveStevos

2026 Irish Oaks Meeting Curragh Tips

I’ve already posted a preview for Saturday’s UK action on the TXMarkets blog, click here to see those. Now, I’ll try to find a couple of bets at big odds in Ireland. My 2026 Irish Oaks Meeting Curragh tips are below.

2.50 – Scurry Handicap (105 = 10st)

I have covered five of today’s Curragh races for the Racing Post Spotlights. The horses I have tipped in those races are all too short for my blog but hopefully one of them might win (although I won't hold my breat). They are Anchor Road in the 1.10, Stooked in the 1.40, One Look in the 2.15, Cover Up in the 3.25 and Noble Honour in the 5.10.

This is a more suitable race in which to find a big priced winner (or place) and on this quick ground, I can’t believe Tango Flare, who won the Bold Lad for us last year at 50/1, is being dismissed by the oddsmakers again. I thought he’d be around 10/1 for this after his Fairyhouse win and close second behind Big Gossey in a listed race over 6f here last time but he’s been chalked up at 28s.

However, with all that being said, he is at his very best over 6f and the extra half-furlong here might just stretch him so instead, I have decided to go for another overpriced looking horse in Moltophino.

Trained by John Kinsella, this 5yo son of Profitable didn’t enjoy the smoothest of passages when a beaten favourite in this last year. He was still only beaten 3.75l for the win off a mark of 89 and this time, he is 6lb lower.

This gelding has won here before, beating Keke by 3l in a 6f premier handicap off 79 in May 2025, his only previous win. He went close off his revised 10lb higher mark a couple of times after that success last season, including in a valuable handicap at Cork and it looks like Kinsella has possibly had this in mind as his first big target of the season.

His last run here, over 5f, was an excellent effort considering he stumbled at the start and he should be well suited by the step back up to this trip. On his seasonal return he got to within 3l of Headmaster, who is well fancied here, and he is now 10lb better off with that rival. So, at odds of 22/1, Moltophino is the each way selection.

2026 Irish Oaks Meeting Curragh Tip: Moltophino e/w @ 22/1 (5 places) NAP

4.35 – Irish Oaks (Group 1)

Whenever I finish my tips for the TXMarkets blog, the first thing I do at 6pm is check to see if Tom Segal has put up any of my selections. If he has, it rarely ends well but today, when I went to check his fancies I was gutted to see he had put up Sparan Nua for this.

I’ve been a huge fan of this filly ever since she won on debut and after watching it, I said to a couple of mates that she could be the one to put Jim Bolger back on the big stage. Since then, she bolted up at Gowran and landed a Group 3 at Cork and Maurice Regan has splashed the cash to purchase her. She was 10/1 when I looked this afternoon but since Pricewise tipped her, she is now no bigger than 15/2. What a nightmare.

I’m too pissed off to put up anything else now. I really hope she wins, for Jim Bolger especially. He’s a legend and he’s in the twilight of his career so it would be brilliant to see him bloody the noses of the mighty Coolmore machine one more time. The fact that Regan owns the horse would make it even sweeter. Hopefully she does the business.

2026 Irish Oaks Meeting Curragh Tip: No bet

5.45 – WTW Willis Handicap (80 = 10st)

I have often written of my disdain for backing handicap debutants. They are completely different races compared to maidens, where maybe only three or four horses will be actually trying, and it can take a horse a run to get used to the more competitive nature of a handicap.

Lamar Canyon, a 5f maiden winner at Dundalk back in May (beat Focaccia), made his handicap debut at Cork on his next start. He found things happening too quickly and could never land a blow, but I would imagine he learned plenty from that initial experience against more seasoned campaigners.

The handicapper dropped him 2lb to 80 for that run and while that makes him close to top weight here, Adam Browne-Souza, who rode a winner for this outfit at Down Royal earlier this week, takes off 7lb so he only carries 9st 3lb here.

There are questions he has to answer, such as whether he is going to be effective on turf. His pedigree suggests that he should be. His Dawn Approach dam was a 6f winner on good ground and she’s a half sister to a firm ground American winner. His sire won his G2 on good ground too so there’s no reason why these conditions shouldn’t suit.

Lamar Canyon isn’t one for maximum stakes, especially given his draw in 18, but at 28/1 he is worth throwing a few pennies at e/w.

2026 Irish Oaks Meeting Curragh Tip: Lamar Canyon e/w @ 28/1 (5 places)

-DaveStevos