14:10 | Galway | Thursday 30th July 2026

73 Expert View: Returned to form in first time cheekpieces on handicap debut landing a handicap by a head off a 7lb lower mark at The Curragh last time; effective 6f on good and good to firm; revised mark demands more.

Form Snapshot: A winner at 5-1 at Curragh over 6f (good to firm) on his latest outing earlier this month, beating Seven Nation Army by a head.

2 (8)

Banks Of The Boyne 22

b g ; Space Traveller - High Shine

12/1 13

Wesley Joyce (3)

M Mulvany

Star rating: 3

802 2 9-13 81

76 Expert View: Improved down in trip under positive ride when second beaten 1/2l in a maiden at Fairyhouse latest; wide draw; effective 6f, bred for 7f+, acts on good; should improve now handicapping.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in three starts. Beaten 1/2l by Nail House when second of 8 at 100-1 on his latest outing at Fairyhouse over 6f (good) earlier this month.

3 (4)

Bold Commander 11

b c ; No Nay Never - Alphabet

5/1 6

J Cleary (5)

A P O'Brien

Star rating: 4

525 2 9-13 81

G BF

79 Expert View: Yard has won 2 of last 9 runnings of race; ran to form but looked in need of stiffer test beaten 2 1/4l in a maiden at The Curragh last time; speed in pedigree, effective 5f, acts on good; with top yard, should improve significantly now handicapping.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in three starts. Finished 2 1/4l behind La Tache when fifth of 11 at 11-8fav on his latest outing at Curragh over 5f (good to firm) earlier this month.

4 (1)

Seven Nation Army (GER) 11

ch g ; Counterattack - Scouting

5/2 3.5

J M Sheridan

J P O'Brien

Star rating: 3

8862 2 9-11 79

79 Expert View: Yard won this last year; improved on handicap debut beaten a head off a 5lb lower mark at The Curragh last time; top course trainer; effective 6-7f on soft and good to firm; type to do better handicapping but revised mark demands more again.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in four starts. Beaten a head by I Ready when second of 8 at 8-1 on his latest outing at Curragh over 6f (good to firm) earlier this month.

5 (3)

Margot Mae 21

ch f ; Starspangledbanner - Moody Blue

7/2 4.5

Scott McCullagh

Mrs J Harrington

Star rating: 5

637 2 9-10 78

D G

83 Expert View: Every chance, bit below form beaten 8 1/4l in a maiden at Leopardstown last time; sprint-bred, effective 7f; tall filly, penultimate run franked at Group level, opening mark could be lenient.

Form Snapshot: Placed once in three starts. Beaten 9l behind Maire Rua at 4-1 when seventh of 13 on her latest outing at Leopardstown over 7f (good) earlier this month.

6 (6)

Celtic Moon (FR) 28

b f ; Thunder Moon - Holdbacktheriver

3/1 4

Ben Coen

J P Murtagh

Star rating: 4

41 2 9-9 77

81 Expert View: Ran to form up in trip benefitting from drop in class when winning a maiden at Bellewstown by 1 1/4l last time; effective 7-8f on soft, good; fair chance with further improvement likely.

Form Snapshot: Dam won twice at 1m 2f and 1m 3f. Won on her latest outing when 2-1jt-fav at Bellewstown over 1m (good) earlier this month, beating Cashel Queen by 1 1/4l.

7 (2)

Eighteenth Smiles 19

b c ; State Of Rest - Banned

14/1 15

Declan McDonogh

J P O'Brien

Star rating: 4

5550 2 9-4 72

79 Expert View: Yard won this last year; outpaced, looked in need of stiffer test down the field in an auction race at Navan most recent; cheekpieces first time; top course trainer; middle-distance bred; should do better now stepped up in trip in handicaps.

Form Snapshot: Unplaced in all four starts. Beaten 11l behind Shesthedevil at 14-1 when 12th of 17 on his latest outing at Navan over 6f (good) earlier this month. He is wearing cheekpieces for the first time.

8 (5)

Winnie's Wish 33

b c ; Coulsty - Bonnefio

20/1 21

Chris Hayes

G P Cromwell

Star rating: 3

808 2 8-7 61 3

76 Expert View: Never threatened, below form up in class well beaten in a maiden at The Curragh latest; sire useful 6f/7f, related to 7f/10f winners; plenty to find on handicap debut.

Form Snapshot: Full brother to Madbadanddangerous, won three times between 7f and 1m 5f. Unplaced in both starts. Well beaten at 150-1 behind Giant Sequoia when last of 8 on his latest outing at Curragh over 7f (good to firm) last month.

Long Handicap: Winnie's Wish 8-4

2025: (6 ran) Which Wolf Wins ( 1 ) , Age 2 , Wgt 9-4 , SP 5/4 - Dylan Browne McMonagle / J P O'Brien

Forecast: 9/4 Celtic Moon , 3/1 Bold Commander , 6/1 Seven Nation Army , 6/1 I Ready , 7/1 Margot Mae , 7/1 Banks Of The Boyne , 16/1 Eighteenth Smiles , 25/1 Winnie's Wish

Last Updated: 29 Jul 2026 20:15:16

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CD Course & Distance
D Distance
C Course
Hcp Today’s Official Rating or Higher

G Going
HG Headgear
Cl Class
S Surface

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Other Information

BF Beaten favourite last time out
MM Horse is within the top 10 steamers for the day
MM Horse is within the top 10 drifters for the day
ATR Horse is being backed by one of our tipsters

90 Official Rating
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v/b/h Visor / Blinkers / Hood
es/ec Eye Shield / Eye Cover
p Cheek Pieces
t Tongue Strap

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WS This horse received Wind Surgery prior to this run
WS2 This was the horse's second outing after receiving Wind Surgery

2 Horse is due to go xlb down in future race
2 Horse is due to go xlb up in future races

Bookies best price percentage = 122.69%

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Verdict
Expert View Verdict

Verdict

There was give in the ground when MARGOT MAE ran her best race to date and perhaps conditions will suit as she seeks her first success on her handicap debut. On her second start, she finished third on soft at Leopardstown, only a neck behind subsequent Group 3 winner Alpha. While she couldn't match that effort in a hot maiden on better ground next time, this looks a lesser task. I Ready pipped Seven Nation Army to win a similar race over 6f at the Curragh and both clearly have their chance again. Bold Commander takes a considerable step up in trip after recent outings at Bellewstown and when a beaten favourite at the Curragh.

Top Tip: Margot Mae (5)
Watch out for: I Ready (1)

MARGOT MAE can take advantage of a lenient opening mark. She was a touch disappointing last time but she's been highly tried in maidens and her penultimate run has been franked emphatically. Eighteenth Smiles may appear the stable second string on jockey bookings but he still may prove the biggest danger to the selection. He has long looked in need of this step up in trip and is a likely improver in the first time headgear. Bold Commander was consistent in maidens and should be capable of much better now handicapping for his top yard so also rates a threat.

1-2-3 Selections

Previous Winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Draw	Age	Weight	OR	Form	Last run	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Soft	6	Which Wolf Wins	1	2	9 4	72	6092	12 days	J P O'Brien (131 miles)	Dylan McMonagle	5/ 4	1:31.10
2024	Soft	12	Lady O	11	2	9 7	75	134	17 days	Mrs J Harrington (113 miles)	Shane Foley	10/ 3	1:31.49
2023	Heavy	4	Portland	4	2	9 10	90	34	31 days	A P O'Brien (88 miles)	Seamie Heffernan	15/ 8	1:33.45
2022	Soft	6	Pandora Lovegood	5	2	9 3	83	631	32 days	J G Murphy (88 miles)	Gary Carroll	15/ 8	1:34.64
2021	Good	9	Cool And Clever	6	2	9 5	83	41	81 days	J S Bolger (56 miles)	Kevin Manning	9/ 2	1:29.02

Race Favourite Stats

Year	Favourite Finish Position	Winner Market Position
2025	1	1
2024	2	2
2023	2	2
2022	1	1
2021	3, 5	4

Race Record

Distance	Record Time
7f	1:05.50