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