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

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tips

Heathcliff nicked fourth for us on Saturday and we also landed a place with Synergism, but that was as good as it got. Pricewise cursed Witch Hunter, Boxing Great ran well but not well enough and Hanney Girl was far too keen early. Hopefully we do better on Irish Derby Day, my Curragh fancies are below.

1.40 – Rockingham Handicap (Premier)

Aidan O’Brien will likely win the opener so we’ll start with the Rockingham. There’s quite a few in here that I am a fan of. Gazelle d’Or is a cracking filly and should run a big race but is she well handicapped enough to win off 97? I’m not sure.

One that is certainly capable of winning off her current mark is Back Down Under. Trained by Padraig Roche, this daughter of Australia rarely runs a bad race at this venue, once the ground is on the quick side. I had prepared a big write up for her thinking she’d be double figure odds but she’s opened up at 8s and is already into 6s so I had to start over.

At around 33/1, Buddy Batt might run well. He’s done most of his winning on the AW but some of his best turf runs have come at this venue. It admittedly wasn’t his finest effort when he last ran over C&D in April but to be fair, soft ground probably wasn’t ideal.

Last October he ran a nice race to finish a 3l fifth of 16 in a C&D handicap on yielding but the run that suggests he might go well here came back in June 2024 in a 3yo premier handicap, the sole occasion he got good ground over C&D. He ran a fine race to finish a 3l fourth behind Kendall Roy off 76 and he’s just 1lb higher here.

Last time out at Dundalk he was sent off the 7-2 fav and he never really got a clear run. A 3lb drop for that seems generous and he’s running off the same mark as when he won at Dundalk three starts ago. Winning is probably beyond him in this company but hopefully, he can sneak a bit of place money at odds of 33/1.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: Buddy Batt e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

2.10 – Dash Stakes (Listed)

I have previewed five races on this card for the Racing Post spotlights and this is one of them. I tipped up the legend that is Big Gossey and if he repeats the level of form he showed in the Greenlands here last time out, he may well be hard to beat. He’s accordingly priced, though, so I am going to go put one up e/w at bigger odds.

The one that appeals most at a price is a filly we backed in the Greenlands last time out, Fregada. I remain convinced that this daughter of Kodiac is capable of earning black type and while her form figures this year are not great, she hasn’t been a million miles away the last twice.

In the Greenlands, she showed up well for a long way before fading late. In the end, she was beaten 4.5l for the win but she was only 2.5l behind Big Gossey and close up behind the 107 rated Montassib and 110 rated Bucanero Fuerte. Last time out in a listed race at Cork over 5f she was beaten 3.5l for the win, keeping on, and she should be much more comfortable stepped back up to 6f here.

Hopefully Ronnie Whelan takes his time on her here and comes with a late run. If he does, Fregada can hopefully snaffle some black type at odds of 25/1.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: Fregada e/w @ 25/1 (NB)

2.45 – Derby Festival Handicap (Premier)

This is another race I did for the RP and I sided with the veteran Coeur d’Or, who was runner up in this last year off 11lb higher. He has run well on his last two starts and the drop back to 1m on quick ground is a plus for him.

The most interesting one at much bigger odds is Lord Massusus. This son of Markaz seems to have been around forever but he is still only a 6yo. He is usually campaigned at Listed/G3 level and he now has his sights lowered and returns to handicap company for the first time since May 20233.

Lord Massusus is actually undefeated in handicaps, his last win coming off 97. He is now rated 98 after a couple of middling runs in stakes’ company and with Paddy Harnett claiming 5lb, he is effectively 4lb lower than for his last win. He’s won over C&D, he handles quick ground and at odds of 18/1, he is worth chancing e/w.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: Lord Massusus e/w @ 18/1 (4 places)

3.20 – International Stakes (Group 3)

It is hard to see beyond Purview in this G3. He looked a proper horse when dotting up over 1m4f in a listed race here last time and he previously scored at this trip at Cork so the drop back in distance shouldn’t stop him from completing the hat-trick.

None of the bigger priced horses make much appeal here so we’ll move swiftly on. No bet.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: No bet

3.55 – Celebration Stakes (Listed)

Tokenomics is my RP selection for this race. I am not sure Alcantor will be effective on this quick ground and the Marnane horse beat him last time out at Leopardstown. I’m surprised he’s as big as 9/2 and if Luke McAteer times his challenge right, I think he’s the one to beat. With just two places on offer this race makes limited appeal as an e/w betting heat so we’ll leave it alone. No bet.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: No bet

4.35 – Irish Derby (Group 1)

The big one. The O’Brien family supply six of the eight runners and Epsom flop Benvenuto Cellini is the market leader at 6/4. Moore keeps the faith in this son of Frankel and he’ll likely be a different horse on this quicker ground.

Ronnie Whelan keeps the ride on the Derby winner Christmas Day but whether he’ll be as good on this faster ground remains to be seen. The totally unexposed Raaheeb could prove to be the biggest threat to the fav. He’s 2-2 and Owen Burrows’ charge, who is a full brother to the top class performers Baaeed and Hukum, is an intriguing British raider.

Action was no match for Raaheeb when they met at Sandown in April but he ran a much better race when chasing home Item in the Dante and he had Christmas Day 1.75l behind that day. It was good ground at York and while Christmas Day reversed the form in emphatic fashion at Epsom, that was on much softer ground.

Back on a sounder surface, perhaps Action can turn the tables on Christmas Day. Last season, on his sole start on good to firm, he got to within 1.5l of Bow Echo at Newmarket so he clearly likes fast conditions and it has been a hot, mostly dry week in Ireland. Action looks well down the Ballydoyle pecking order on jockey arrangements but he wouldn’t be the first third or fourth string to run well from that stable so at 25/1, a small e/w interest is advised.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: Action e/w @ 25/1

5.45 – Ragusa Handicap (Premier)

The preceding 3yo handicap didn’t float my boat so we’ll finish up with this ultra-competitive race. This is another one I covered for the RP and I took a chance on Railwayview Lady, who I thought might represent each way value at in and around 25/1.

She opened up at that price (and even bigger with Sky at 33s) but she’s been backed already and is now a best price of 14s. Is she still value? Yes, probably. I thought she stayed on really nicely in a quality 1m2f handicap here last time out, she’s been generously eased 2lb and the step up in trip looks sure to suit.

I’m going to stick to my guns with her, hopefully Wayne Lordan can sneak her into the places at the very least.

2026 Curragh Irish Derby Day Tip: Railwayview Lady e/w @ 14/1 (4 places) NAP

-DaveStevos

2026 Oaks & Derby Ante-Post Preview

If the French Derby is anything to go by, we may as well hand the Oaks and Derby trophies to Coolmore now. We were out of luck with both our Chantilly bets but I thought both Temapica and Campacite ran better than the bare results and I’d like to see them running on a more galloping track. Hopefully we see them in the UK at some stage.

We’ll have a go at a 2026 Oaks & Derby e/w double (and two small singles) this weekend, hopefully we can get a couple of decent runs for our money.

2026 Oaks (Friday)

Five of the twelve remaining entries in the 2026 Oaks are trained by Aidan O’Brien. At the top of the Ballydoyle pecking order (according to the bookies) is Amelia Earhart, who is the 2/1 fav. By Camelot, this represents a big step up in class for the Chesire Oaks winner and if it comes up soft (which is a real possibility looking at the weather forecast) she might be worth taking on.

When the weather is unsettled, as it is supposed to be this week, it makes even short range ante-post betting treacherous. Back a good ground horse and it is almost certain to rain heavily, back a soft ground horse and the sun will probably split the stones all week.

In order to try and find some value, I am going to presume that there will be an ease in the ground at Epsom this weekend. The one that I came down on is the twice raced Wathnan filly, A La Prochaine.

Trained by Ralph Beckett, a man who knows how to train an Oaks winner, this daughter of Lope De Vega raced just once as a 2yo. That run came over 1m at Newbury in October on soft ground and she kept on nicely to score by 1.5l. It wasn’t the deepest maiden but three of those behind her have won since, so it wasn’t the worst race either.

Seasonal Return

Beckett pitched his charge into Listed company on her return in the Cheshire Oaks and she shaped encouragingly to finish a 3.25l third behind Ameila Earhart. A shade slowly away, she seemed to handle the tight turns of Chester well and while she was soundly beaten by Amelia Earhart, I’d imagine she’s the type of filly that will come on hugely for that run. It is also important to remember that was just the second run of her life, whereas the winner was having her sixth start.

A 550k purchase as a yearling, A La Prochaine has a decent pedigree. She’s by a top tier sire and she’s a half-sister to a heavy ground Listed & G3 winner and her dam, who is by Hurricane Run, was Listed placed and she is related to another couple of stakes’ placed performers.

Obviously, A La Prochaine will have to take a big step forward from her Chester run, but as I mentioned earlier that was just her second start so huge improvement could be forthcoming. At odds of 16/1, she is the each way selection.

2026 Oaks Tip: A La Prochaine e/w @ 16/1

2026 Derby (Saturday)

We should have a bigger field for the 2026 Epsom Derby. 17 horse have stood their ground and though seven are trained by O’Brien, only two are single figure odds. The hype horse is Benvenuto Cellini, a Frankel colt who hosed up in the Chester Vase. He has won a maiden on yielding to soft but he could only manage third on heavy in the Futurity at Donny last season so if there’s lots of rain, it could be a concern for him.

Just like I did in the Oaks, I am going to bank on it being a wet week on the Epsom Downs. And just like in the Oaks, the one that makes most appeal at a half-decent price is another Ralph Beckett horse, Bay of Brilliance.

By New Bay, a sire that I am a massive fan of, this colt has won two of his four starts. After a mildly promising debut at Newbury (7f, gd-fm) he got off the mark upped to 1m2f on soft ground in a decent Goodwood maiden in September.

Beckett kept him in novice company at Redcar on his next outing a month later and dropped him back to 1m1f, this time on good to soft ground. Bay Of Brilliance was giving 7lb away to his six rivals and he made mincemeat of them, bolting up by 8.5l.

Up In Grade

Beckett stepped his son of New Bay up in grade on his seasonal return in the Derby Trial at Lingfield (11.5f, gd-fm). He ran a cracker to finish a neck second behind Maltese Cross, who had a race fitness edge, and on easier ground with that run under his belt, I’d strongly fancy Bay of Brilliance to turn the tables on that rival.

This lad isn’t lacking in the pedigree department either. He’s a half-brother to the classy dual-purpose performer Absurde, who ran a huge race in the Melbourne Cup a couple of years ago. His Singspiel dam was a useful performer on easy ground in France and was placed at Listed level and his grand-dam is a half-sister to the 1998 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Juvenia.  

The more rain that falls the better it will suit this colt, in my opinion, and while there are better jockeys out there than Hector Crouch, he has been on board for all four of his previous runs so it is understandable that he keeps the ride. Even if it doesn’t rain, this colt proved he handled faster conditions at Lingfield and at odds of 16/1, he is worth backing e/w. 

All aboard the Beckett Express for Epsom!

2026 Epsom Derby Ante-Post Tip: Bay Of Brilliance e/w @ 16/1

-DaveStevos

2026 Sandown Thursday Tips

We almost landed a whopper with Carolina Jetstream on Sunday. She ran an absolute cracker and she should be capable of winning a stakes race on good ground at some stage. The Brigadier Gerard Stakes is the feature at Sandown on Thursday night and I have a couple of e/w fancies on the card.

5.42 – National Stakes (Listed)

Even in modest sized fields like this, it is usually a big advantage to be drawn low in sprints at Sandown. In the last 20 runnings of this 2yo sprint only four times has it been won by horses drawn 6 or higher. Two of the most fancied horses here are drawn in 7 and 8, so could there be an upset on the cards?

Napa recorded an RPR of 95 when winning at Sandown and the third, fifth and sixth from that race have all won since. The Naval Crown colt has been handed a lovely draw in stall 2 and it would be no surprise whatsoever if he bounces out and makes all, just like he did at HQ.

The outsider that appeals most is Dandyman Dan. Trained by David Evans, whose horses are flying, this son of Dandy Man won on debut at Bath despite doing a lot wrong and being sent off at 40-1. He was a step slowly away, he ran green and he bumped a rival but in the end, he overcame that adversity to win by just over a length.

The runner up went close in another maiden on the AW next time, the third won, and the fourth and the fifth were both second on their next outings so it wasn’t a bad race in hindsight.

Does he have the pedigree to win at this level? Well, his Dark Angel dam is a half-sister to Start Time, who was placed in a G3 as a 2yo, and his grand-dam Silca’s Sister was a 6f G1 2yo winner for Saeed Bin Suroor.

Hopefully Dandyman Dan has learned plenty from that debut run at Bath and if he is more professional here, he might be able to sneak some black type from the plum draw in stall 1. At odds of 25/1, a modest e/w interest is advised.

2026 Sandown Thursday Tip: Dandyman Dan e/w @ 25/1

6.42 – Heron Stakes (listed)

Ed Walker won this with his recent G1 hero Almaqam in 2024 and while he did have the benefit of a prep run before the race, I think it might be worth taking a chance on Golden Knight for him here on his seasonal reappearance.

This Camelot colt was beaten 2.25l into fourth on debut at Haydock last September (1m, gd-sft) and the winner and runner up from that race are now rated 96 and 108 respectively. Just under a month later he went on to win a Newmarket novice (1m, good), and the third, fourth and fifth from that race have all gone on to win various races since.

Golden Knight dominated that race from the front and I thought it was a pretty impressive performance. He’s impeccably bred, being out of G3 winner and he’s a half-brother to Delphi (Listed & G3 winner) and Credenza (placed in Listed, G3 and G2 company).

His pedigree suggests he’ll stay further than a mile in time but he was effective over this trip last time so it makes sense to stick to it for now. Hopefully Walker has him fit and ready and if he does, Golden Knight can outrun his odds of 22/1.

2026 Sandown Brigadier Gerard Meeting Tip: Golden Knight e/w @ 22/1

-DaveStevos

2026 Curragh Sunday Preview & Tips

The less said about Saturday the better. Spicy Marg finished third but due to a non-runner, third wasn’t good enough for a place. Aqua Bear shortened into 12s from 66s and Squealer was backed into 12s too but neither horse raised a gallop.

To be fair to Fregada, she ran a decent race and she was only 2l off a place in sixth and Mgheera wasn’t too far off a place either and the only positive was that Suspended Sentence was a non-runner so we ‘only’ had six losers.

On Sunday the Irish 1000 Guineas is the feature, confidence has taken a battering but hopefully we do better.

2.15 – Marble Hill Stakes (Group 3)

Some decent juveniles have won this over the years, including the likes of Caravaggio, Siskin, Blackbeard and Arizona Blaze. This year Great Barrier Reef is a prohibitive odds on fav for Ballydoyle, fresh from a treble here yesterday. By No Nay Never, he was very impressive when winning easily on debut over C&D. The ground was soft that day and the form hasn’t worked out but his pedigree suggests that he’ll be even better on faster ground and it would be no surprise were he to hack up.

His odds reflect his chance though and at a double figure price, I’ll side with Robson De Aguiar’s son of Persian Force, Immortal Guard. Very well backed on debut over C&D (good) three weeks ago, he overcame a slightly tardy start to get off the mark at the first attempt and score by half a length.

The third went close in another maiden next time out, the fifth hosed up at Cork this earlier week and after the race, his trainer suggested he would improve plenty for whatever he did first time out. De Aguiar’s other runner, Edward Thatch looks a useful sort too but at odds of 14/1, I’ll take a chance on Immortal Guard e/w.

2026 Curragh Sunday Tip: Immortal Guard e/w @ 14/1

2.45 – Spring Fillies’ Handicap (100 = 9st 12lb)

Usually I avoid handicap debutants but in this 3yo race it might be worth making an exception. Down based trainer Natalia Lupini’s horses are often underrated and she has her string in excellent form right now. Zia Zabel went mightily close to springing a surprise in a G3 here yesterday and in the same silks, Goomah could go well here.

By Sioux Nation, this filly showed glimmers of promise in a couple of 7f Dundalk maidens at the backend of last season. The money came for her on her seasonal return in a 7f Leopardstown maiden (good) and she was beaten just 0.75l in third, just tiring in the closing stages.

That probably wasn’t the strongest of maidens but it was a decent effort and you’d imagine she’ll improve plenty for the run. By Sioux Nation, the step up to a mile raises questions but she’s a half to a 1m5f winner, her dam won over a mile and she is a half to a 1m5f G3 winner so there is a good chance she’ll stay 1m on breeding.

Wayne Lordan (25/182 with 44 top 4s for the yard) keeps the faith and on the form of her second run at Dundalk, an opening mark of 77 could well be workable. At odds of 22/1, Goomah is the each way selection.

2026 Curragh Sunday Tip: Goomah e/w @ 22/1 (4 places)

3.20 – Lanwades Stud Stakes (Group 2)

I put Carolina Jetstream up for a Listed race at Naas last week but she was withdrawn on account of good ground. Given that my angle for tipping her was her excellent run in a maiden here on good ground, her only previous turf run on that kind of surface, it was a bit of a headscratcher.

Another filly that long time followers will be familiar with is Hey Boo. Last year, she was my fancy for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket but she never landed a blow, finishing just over 5l behind the winner Desert Flower in eighth. On her next start, she was bitterly disappointing at Sandown but the soft ground likely didn’t suit the daughter of Wootton Bassett’s sire, Iffraaj.

Jack Channon’s filly got back on track on her final run of 2025 when finishing a close second in a Listed heat back at Newmarket (1m, gd-fm), beaten 0.75l behind Francophone, who re-opposes here. She goes well fresh and she could turn the tables, but I just can’t get away from Carolina Jetstream.

Apart from the good ground angle, she just missed out on black type at Dundalk last November when a 1.75l fourth and a neck in front of her was Jancis, a 3/1 shot here. De Aguiar and Amo also run California Dreamer here, and she is preferred by retained rider David Egan but Donagh O’Connor is 2/2 on Carolina Jetstream so maybe, he was given the ride again for that reason.

I’ll be having a small bet on Hey Boo too at 22s but I have to stick to my guns and tip Carolina Jetstream e/w for small stakes again. Odds of 80/1 are just too tempting to resist.

2026 Curragh Sunday Tip: Carolina Jetstream e/w @ 80/1 (4 places)

4.30 – Irish 1000 Guineas (Group 1)

Nothing really appealed at a price in the previous race so we’ll move onto the main event. Due to time constraints, I’ll have to be brief. The one I’ve backed is Magny Cours.  A daughter of Awtaad, she produced the best run of her 2yo career on her last start of 2025 and she improved again on her seasonal return at Leopardstown.

In that comeback race she was dropped out early, produced wide and stayed on really nicely to take a 1.25l second behind True Love, who is odds on here. Magny Cours should not be 50s and with the step up to 1m almost certain to suit on breeding, she is the each way selection.

2026 Curragh Sunday Tip: Magny Cours e/w @ 50/1

-DaveStevos

2026 Irish 2000 Guineas Preview & Tips

We got back into the winner’s enclosure on Saturday with Song Of The Clyde. What a relief! This weekend, we have two cracking days of racing at the Curragh. On Saturday, the 3yo colts take centre stage for the Irish 2000 Guineas and then on Sunday, it’s all about the girls in the 1000 Guineas.

We’ve had a bit of success in these races before, including when we backed Romanised to win at 40/1 (one of my favourite ever tips, hard to believe it was eight years ago) and last year, the 1000 Guineas was the race that convinced me to put Cercene up for Ascot at triple-figure odds. Hopefully this year’s renewals are equally as fruitful.

2026 Irish 2000 Guineas

Gstaad, a winner of three of his seven races, is a very short price to go one better than he did at Newmarket. He should come on for that run and he is miles clear on official ratings but 4/9? That looks a bit too short to me, especially when you consider his all-conquering yard’s recent record in this race isn’t exactly what you might expect (two wins in ten years).

O’Brien has three other runners and no doubt they’ll do their very best to ensure the race is run to suit Gstaad but, in saying that, his Coolmore owned sire Starspangledbanner has already sired multiple Group 1 winners and he’s 19 years old now so commercially, it would probably be better for their operation if Neolithic won.

He’s by Sioux Nation, another Coolmore sire, and he has yet to sire a Group 1 winner in Ireland, the UK or France. His fee has risen steadily since he was introduced at 12,500 in 2019 and after another 7.5k hike this year, his fee now stands at 37,500. Seen as a speed influence by most, if he were to sire a 1m G1 winner his fee would probably double next year. At 40s, he might be worth a little e/w dabble.

Star To Shine?

However, at even bigger odds I am going to go with another son of Starspangledbanner, the Johnny Murtagh trained Take Charge Star. According to my research, this will be Murtagh’s first runner in the Irish 2000 Guineas since his only previous runner in 2013, Fort Knox, who finished out the back.

Given the success he has had since joining the training ranks, I was hugely surprised by that fact. My thinking is that he’s been waiting until he had a proper horse to have another go and while on bare form with a rating of just 97 Take Charge Star has no apparent chance, if he had got a clearer run in the Listed Tetrarch Stakes over C&D (good) last time out I think he may have beaten Neolithic (40s here).

On his seasonal return at Naas, he ran in a three runner 1m conditions race on soft ground and finished 4l behind Hardy Warrior, who is 33s here. He also failed to reach the first four in the Goffs Million on soft ground last season. However, I’m not sure testing ground is his bag and while there was lots of rain around in Ireland early this week, the forecast is much better for the next few days so it should be beautiful ground for both the 2000 and 1000 Guineas this weekend.

Pedigree Pointers

Is Take Charge Star bred to be a Guineas horse? Well, he’s by the same sire as the 4/9 favourite, so that box is ticked. There’s encouragement to be taken from the dam side of his pedigree too. He’s out of a Group 2 winning Selkirk mare, and Selkirk is damsire to the likes of Daryz, Benbatl, Inspiral and Kinross, among others. His half-sister Albigna won the French 1000 Guineas and his granddam’s half-sister Domedriver won the Breeders’ Cup Mile. He certainly has the pedigree, anyway. 

It was Take Charge Star’s first run over 1m on good ground last time and given how he was ridden, buried on the inner, it was probably a fact-finding mission. Given that he has been left in the race, Ben Coen must have been pretty happy with the run and he did travel very strongly until he ran out of room 2f out, got checked and lost all momentum. I think there could be a bigger run than the odds suggest in this colt so at 66/1, a small e/w interest is advised. Hopefully he can sneak into the first three.

2026 Irish 2000 Guineas Tip: Take Charge Star e/w @ 66/1

-DaveStephens

2026 Naas Sunday Preview

After a confidence boosting winner with Song Of The Clyde on Saturday and a good run from our NAP Spyce (who just missed a place in fourth) I have decided to do another write up for tomorrow’s meeting at Naas. Find out who I am backing in my 2026 Naas Sunday preview below.

2.26 – ALTO Equine Handicap (100 = 10st)

Earlier this season I put the quirky Senna’s Girl up for the Irish Lincolnshire. It’s fair to say she ran a stinker but she clearly needed that run and it has been much more like it in two runs since then.

On her next start after the Lincoln she ran a cracker at Leopardstown in a first time tongue tie over 7f (yld-sft). Running off 78 and drawn in the car park, she stayed on really nicely in the closing stages to grab fourth, finishing 3.75l behind the winner.

Diego Dias decided to return to maiden company at Limerick on her next start (1m, yielding) and she again ran a really nice race. Wearing cheekpieces and a tongue tie this time, she ran on strongly after a slightly slow start for a 2.75l third.

The handicapper generously dropped her another 1lb for that run and with Rory Mulligan’s claim, she is effectively 7lb lower than when running so well at Leopardstown. The way she finishes off her races, the stiff finish at Naas could suit her and she has run well on good ground before, though there was a fair bit of rain on Saturday so it shouldn’t be too quick tomorrow.

The headgear she wore last time is retained and while she’s drawn wide, she’ll be dropped out early anyway so that isn’t really a negative. At odds of 12/1, Senna’s Girl is the each way NAP of the day.

2026 Naas Sunday Tip: Senna’s Girl e/w @ 12/1 NAP (4 places)

3.56 – Owenstown Stud Stakes (Listed)

I am going to take a punt on one at huge odds here. On the figures, Carolina Jetstream has no apparent chance here. She is rated 95 so she has over a stone to find with some of her higher rated rivals but she does get a few pounds of an allowance from the boys and she is unexposed on good ground.

This daughter of Pinatubo has shown all her best form on the AW. All four of her career wins have come at Dundalk, the latest a handicap off 92 in February. She has also dipped her toe in Listed company at that venue and she was a whisker away from nicking some black type in fourth, finishing 1.25l behind the winner Aviatrice and a neck behind the runner up Jancis, who won the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on her next outing.

Carolina Jetstream is 0-4 on turf and three of her four runs on grass have been piss poor. However, for those three runs she was running on soft and heavy ground. The only time in her career she ran on good ground was in a Curragh maiden as a 2yo back in October 2024 and she ran an excellent race to finish a 2.25l third behind Giselle, a subsequent Listed winner who finished fifth in the 2025 Oaks.

It is crazy to think this will be her first run on good ground since then and I am hoping she might improve plenty for it. At odds of 50/1, it is worth chancing that she does.

2026 Naas Sunday Tip: Carolina Jetstream e/w @ 50/1

-DaveStevos