It was a second Group 1 victory in two days for Keane and Juddmonte, having won the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes with Item yesterday.

The Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on her most recent racecourse appearance, started today’s contest as the 10/11 favourite in the nine-runner field.

Her opposition included the winner of this race last year, Minnie Hauk (4/1), and the recent Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh (5/1), the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Sugar Island, the stable mate of the betting market’s second choice, Minnie Hauk, set a strong pace under Ronan Whelan, and the pair found themselves about 20 lengths ahead as they headed for the home bend.

The daughter of Dubawi found for Whelan in the straight and made the remainder of the field work to close the gap, before she was finally headed at the one-furlong pole.

As Kalpana and Keane took the lead at that stage, Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua (25/1), with Rossa Ryan in the saddle, went second, while Minnie Hauk and Ryan Moore were third.

The favourite soon began to drift as she battled for the line, with Sparán Nua, in the Newton Anner Stud colours, staying on strongly to challenge the eventual winner, as Minnie Hauk didn’t have the pace to live with either of the main protagonists.

As they hit the finishing line, Kalpana had an advantage of a half-length over Sparán Nua, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minnie Hauk was two-and-a-half lengths behind the runner-up.

Earth Shot (20/1), Tattycoram (25/1) and Johanna Walsh, who had all been prominent in the earlier stages of the race, faded to finish fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

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Orandi, an eight-year-old son of Morandi, was third in the same contest last season, but went two places better tonight as he and rider Robbie Colgan saw off the Ado McGuinness-trained favourite, Pierre Royal (7/2) and Adam Caffrey by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

A neck behind the Lusk handler’s bay son of Blue Point was Jagged Edge (15/2), from the Stephen Thorne yard, in third in the hands of three-pound claimer Jack Kearney. Hardy Warrior (9/2), who had pattern race experience prior to this Premier Handicap finished fourth for Dylan Browne McMonagle and Joseph O’Brien, a further length-and-a-half back.

Lizzie Twigg takes Listed Novice Hurdle

Lizzie Twigg (5/2) gave Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy the opening Listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle. The five-year-old bumper winner, who is now unbeaten in three starts over obstacles, carried Elliott’s own colours to victory, coming home two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Fastnet Crystal (4/1), with the other Elliott-trained runner, Porcupine Bank (9/2) in third, one-and-a-quarter lengths in arrears of the Joseph O’Brien-handled runner-up.

White-hot 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐠𝐠 brings up the hat-trick for @gelliott_racing and @jackkennedy15 in the Listed @ColmQuinn_bmw Novice Hurdle @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/UX5QO92c96

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2026

Frankie John takes beginners’ chase

Frankie John (15/8), winner of a bumper at Galway last summer, returned successfully to Ballybrit on Tuesday when taking the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase over 2 miles 2 furlongs and 54 yards. The six-year-old grey son of Walk In The Park tracked the race leader Eclipse Chaser (28/1) and Danny Mullins for much of the race before coming to the stands’ side on entering the straight. The Denis Hogan inmate battled up the hill as he held off challenges from eventual second Bowensonfire (9/2), third-place finisher My Great Mate (7/1), and race favourite Love Me Tender (6/4f), who eventually finished in fourth.

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 hangs tough in the Latin Quarter Beginners’ Chase @Galway_Races for @d_g_hogan and Dan King pic.twitter.com/UPd9HAhyir

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2026

Samnina wins for Harrington & Foley

Samnina (4/1), who ran fourth at odds of 50/1 to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Alpha at The Curragh last month, broke her maiden this evening when claiming the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. Ridden by Shane Foley, for Jessica Harrington, the juvenile Sea The Moon filly held off joint-favourite, Madam Secretary (3/1jf), by three-quarters-of-a-length, with Silver Kiss (9/2) the same distance further back in third place for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.

Samnina (Sea The Moon) kicks on from an eyecatching Curragh debut to cooly lands the spoils for @Jessica_Racing in the @ColmQuinn_bmw @IrishEBF_ Fillies’ Maiden @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/nTU7fBPxSb

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 28, 2026

McGuinness 1-2-4 in Handicap

Ado McGuinness completed a 1-2-4 in The caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap, race six on the card. Last week’s Naas winner, Eddie G (7/2 favourite) led the McGuinness Team, taking the win under Donegal jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. His stable companion, Go Athletico (15/2) was second in the hands of 2026 Betfred Epsom Derby-winning rider Ronan Whelan, three-quarters-of-a-length behind at the finishing line. Denis Hogan, who earlier in the evening won the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase with Frankie John, took third in this handicap courtesy of Alfred Tennyson (18/1) and Joey Sheridan, while Goal Exceeded (11/2) – another McGuinness horse – was fourth with Adam Caffrey in the saddle.

Tell Us This (12/1), who was 0 from 7 runs over fences prior to today, won the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase for Andrew McNamara and Conor Stone-Walsh. A dual career hurdle winner, the seven-year-old bay Westerner gelding accounted for Herja (16/1) and Leave In Secret (11/1) by two-and-a-half lengths and the same in the 2 miles 2 furlongs and 54 yards race.

The Aga Khan Studs had a 1-2 in The Caulfield Industrial Irish EBF Maiden. The Johnny Murtagh-prepared Sindagan (9/4jf) and Ben Cohen got the better of Almeiyda (6/1) from the Dermot Weld stable, while the finale of Tuesday evening’s meeting, The Caulfield Industrial Handicap, went the way of Lady Arwen (12/1) for Conor O’Dwyer and Billy Lee.

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Colm Quinn BMW sponsors the night’s feature, the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at 6.45pm, along with three other races.

Kennedy’s choices

Lizzie Twigg, a former bumper winner and unbeaten in two hurdles’ starts, contests the opening Listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle at 4.40pm. The daughter of Poet’s Word is the choice of jockey Jack Kennedy, who could have chosen the other Gordon Elliott chance, Porcupine Bank, who is two wins from three runs over the smaller obstacles. Sam Ewing takes the mount on the bay Order Of St George gelding instead.

Henry de Bromhead’s Gomez Addams, a course winner, and a Listowel hurdles’ victor, is likely to be involved in the business end of the race, as should the Willie Mullins-handled Magico, whose run in Punchestown the last day when finishing last of five, is not a true reflection of the Le Havre gelding’s ability.

My Great Mate, who Patrick Mullins has talked up prior to Galway, runs in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase at 5.10pm. Despite a somewhat inconsistent record of only two wins from six hurdle starts, Paul Townend sticks with the Jukebox Jury seven-year-old, despite being beaten in this race in 2025. He has been out of action since last September, which might be a slight concern.

The 147-rated hurdler, Bowensonfire, represents Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House team. A five-time career winner, who is ground versatile, ran most recently over hurdles at Limerick in June. He will be ridden by Jack Kennedy, who had a choice of three horses in the race.

Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap is night’s feature

The day two highlight, the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap (Premier Handicap) sees last year’s winner Dunum return for more. The Natalia Luipini eight-year-old, was also third in another handicap at the Galway Races last season and seems to enjoy the track. Billy Lee, who had an impressive win on Trean for Billy Twomey last night, will be hoping for further success in this €120,000 race.

Mick Mulvaney, whose horses have been in great form recently, trains Ribee, a course and distance winner last year. The four-year-old son of Ribchester last contested a Listed race an Leopardstown, and the drop in standard tonight should be to his liking.

Dylan Browne McMonagle, a winner on Monday night, partners Joseph O’Brien’s Hardy Warrior, who will wear cheekpieces. O’Brien, who competed a double yesterday, had this chestnut colt competing in a Group 3 at ParisLongchamp back in April, meaning the three-year-old is clearly well-thought of.

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Carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, the Derek O’Connor-ridden seven-year-old hadn’t performed in the race last season, but produced a battling display on Monday evening.

Dublin handler Bill Durkan provided both the runner-up Holy See (40/1) and the fourth-place finisher Eagle Fang (13/2). The former, who had won at Gowran on his penultimate outing, was three-quarters-of-a-length behind the winner.

Galway specialist Teed Up (14/1), who has won four flat races and two hurdles contests at the Ballybrit venue was third, a half-length ahead of Eagle Fang in fourth.

O’Brien double

O’Brien quickly doubled up in the following race when Dylan Browne McMonagle guided the 13/8 favourite Dancing Saxon to a four-and-a-quarter length success. The bay daughter of Saxon Warrior, who was 16lbs well in after a Listed win at Naas in June, never looked in danger when heads turned for home in the straight.

Expert Dancer and Sam Coen (11/1) gave trainer Andy Slattery the runner-up spot, while Motta Alta (13/2) was third for yesterday’s German Group 1-winning combination of Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington.

Witches Familiar wins Novice Hurdle

As expected the two powerhouses of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliot were to the fore in the opening Galmont Hotel & Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle – the opener of the 2026 Galway Races Summer Festival.

It was the former, with his French import Witches Familiar (13/8 favourite), who took the 5.10pm race as the Ballinrobe maiden hurdle conqueror in May ran out a ready eight-and-a-half length winner in the hands of Paul Townend.

An impressive victory for Witches Familiar in the @Galway_Races Summer Festival @TheGalmont opener@PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/LW7R2Ms506

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 27, 2026

Another French-bred, Mino Des Mottes (8/1), from the Elliot yard, and ridden by Jack Kennedy, was runner-up, and Arouet (7/1), with Daniel King in the saddle, competed a trifecta for horses bred in France, coming home four-and-three-quarter lengths further back.

Timurshah completes hat-trick

Aidan Melia’s son of Mastercraftsman, Timurshah (12/1), completed a hat-trick of wins when taking the Easyfix Iggy Daly Handicap Hurdle. Ridden by seven-pound claimer Conor Smithers, the five-year-old, who had won this season at Clonmel and Sligo, had six-and-a-half lengths to spare over Whats New (10/1) and Darragh O’Keeffe at the line. Soldante (15/2) and Eoghan Finegan were three-and-three-quarter lengths behind the Andy Slattery-handled Soldier’s Call gelding.

Trean (11/4), in the colours of the Red Lily Racing Syndicate, ran out a four-and-three-quarter length victor in the Eventus Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden for Billy Lee and Paddy Twomey.

A disappointing tenth of 12 runners behind Abraham Lincoln on Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Weekend at The Curragh, the juvenile son of Ballylinch Stud’s Bayside Boy was prominent behind the pacesetter, City Of Gold (7/1), throughout, before scooting clear prior to the final bend. The Wayne Lordan-ridden City Of Gold, from Ballydoyle, was second, with another Aidan O’Brien inmate HMAS Perth (12/1) third. The Joseph O’Brien-handled favourite, One Number (5/2), disappointed to finish back in fifth place.

Following in the footsteps of Constitution River…

Trean (Bayside Boy) sheds his maiden tag comfortably under Billy Lee for @ptwomeyracing @IrishEBF_ | @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/LiFb1vBSMz

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 27, 2026

Colin Keane, fresh from his victory aboard Kalpana in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, took the Grá Chocolates Handicap for three-year-olds with Noel Meade’s Madbadanddangerous (11/2). The winner had a neck to spare over the Billy Lee-ridden Sharkeyboy (7/1), with race favourite Vantage Code (100/30) and Wayne Lordan next home.

The finale, the Ray Dooley Monami Construction Flat Race was won by Jim Bolger’s Teofil, who stayed on well under pressure to score by a neck at 7/2 from Which Flannerys (3/1), with Gordon Elliott’s Primer Contender (15/2) taking third.

“By this time next year you might be talking about the Arc…”

Great insight from Jim Bolger on his @Galway_Races bumper winner Teofil and exciting filly Sparan Nua pic.twitter.com/arC4K0wZjV

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 27, 2026

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The J.P. McManus-owned gelding was one of three runners for the Carriganóg handler in the six-runner contest.

Ridden by Declan McDonagh, the son of Churchill was a three-quarters-of-a-length winner over Happy Pharoah (25/1), from the Donnacha O’Brien yard.

The Paddy Harnett-ridden runner-up had a further three-quarters-of-a-length advantage over the race favourite, Al Riffa (4/6 favourite), who finished in third in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle.

“He loves it!”

Declan McDonogh on Trustyourinstinct – winner of the Curragh Cup @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/AkcN27epBa

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2026

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The three-year-old filly from the Joseph O’Brien stable ran out a ready four-length winner on the fillies’ classic over a mile and a half.

Inis Mór (11/2), one of the overseas-trained challengers, claimed the runner-up spot under Killarney-born jockey Oisín Murphy. The pair had three-quarters-of-a-length to spare over the Jim Bolger-prepared Sparán Nua (8/1) in third, for rider Declan McDonagh.

The race favourite, Earth Shot (9/4 favourite), ridden by James Doyle for English handler William Haggas, disappointed in sixth position.

Thundering On, Joseph O’Brien’s highly impressive winner of the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June, was withdrawn early on Saturday morning, reportedly off her feed.

“It’s kind of made our year, to be quite honest.”@JosephOBrien2 has the won the @JuddmonteFarms-backed Irish Oaks, and the trainer speaks to Gary O’Brien about now being on the training roster of the world-famous operation @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/heWgUBNdRH

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 18, 2026

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It was a second British classic training success for the successful handler, Joseph O’Brien, who previously won the Betfred St Leger with Galileo Gold.

The second English classic of the season saw nine fillies go to post – four of them trained by an O’Brien, one by Joseph, and three by his father Aidan.

Wow. Wow. Wow!

𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 brilliantly wins the Betfred Oaks at Epsom pic.twitter.com/3ev8KpXbjH

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2026

Amelia Earhart (7/4f), the choice of Ballydoyle stable jockey Ryan Moore was the race favourite, with the Colin Keane-ridden Legacy Link (3/1) the second choice of the bookies.

Sugar Island (25/1) and Ronan Whelan set the early pace, closely followed by stable companion Cameo (7/1), the mount of last season’s Epsom Derby-winning rider Wayne Lordan.

The eventual winner, Thundering On, was towards the rear of the field for much of the one mile four furlong race.

Once into the home straight, the chestnut daughter of Frankel, out of Thundering Nights, struck for home alone the stands’ side rail.

”It was effortless.” @DylanBrowneMcM reflects upon Thundering On’s extraordinary victory in the @Betfred Oaks @EpsomRacecourse pic.twitter.com/1u4pB6lb2t

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2026

Colin Keane, wearing the Juddmonte Farms colours aboard Legacy Link, looked the biggest danger to the Salsabil Stakes winner.

Despite the strong challenge of the Dubawi filly, Legacy Link, Thundering On held on comfortably for a three-and-three-quarter length victory to give Donegal rider McMonagle a first British classic success.

The John and Thady Gosden-conditioned Legacy Link took the runner-up position ahead of the outsider of the Ballydoyle trio, Sugar Island (25/1).

Race favourite Amelia Earhart and Ryan Moore finished sixth.

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Hong Kong International Sale graduate Romantic Warrior has now reached a tally of 11 Group 1s in four different jurisdictions, as the James McDonald-ridden seven-year-old ran out a convincing length and three-quarters winner over Bellagio Opera in his latest Group 1 success.

McDonald broke well and sat just behind a steady pace set largely by Joseph O’Brien’s Galen, whose rider Dylan Browne McMonagle tried  to get first run on the field as the group of seven turned into the home straight.

Romantic Warrior was travelling well within himself and with 400m remaining, he was in front and was never going to be passed despite the late challenge from Bellagio Opera, with Quisisana sneaking in late for third.

Shum very proud of Romantic Warrior

Winning trainer Danny Shum said of his multiple Group 1 winner:

“I’m very proud of Romantic Warrior and our stable team, they work really hard. It’s a big relief. He always gives me a lot of happiness, not only me but my stable, owners, my family and in Hong Kong, even racing fans or non-racing fans, they all love Romantic Warrior.

“To be honest, there was a lot of pressure. He had his surgery (when a screw was inserted in his left front leg at the end of May), but he is such a good, calm, lovely horse. He’s part of my family, I love him. My son says I love Romantic Warrior more than him!

“He’s very easy to train. He doesn’t need too much work and his body weight will tell you, his appetite will tell you how fit he is.”

It’s FOUR Hong Kong Cups for the brilliant ROMANTIC WARRIOR! @HKJC_Racing | @HongKong_Racing | #HKIR | #HKRacing pic.twitter.com/f2sEElvud7

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 14, 2025

Romantic Warrior is likely to be aimed another another clash with Forever Young, who he pushed all the way to the line in that famous Group 1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) showdown earlier this year.

“He’s so special”

The successful rider, James McDonald, summed up his admiration for Romantic Warrior by stating:

“He’s so special, he’s so special. He’s just a freak. I don’t know what to say. I just love him. I love him.”

Dylan Browne McMonagle, the rider of the Joseph O’Brien-trained Galen, who out-ran his odds of 25/1 to finish fourth, said of the four-year-old son of Gleneagles:

“He’s a very, very tough horse and he wears his heart on his sleeve. We were drawn a little bit wide and he didn’t step as well as he usually does, which meant I had to work a little bit around the first bend. But I got into a nice rhythm and he was tough the whole way to the line.”

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Defending champion Giavellotto pursued Sosie and jockey Maxime Guyon all the way to the line but could not reverse the placings from October’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), in which the pair finished third and fourth.

Breaking from stall eight, Guyon had Sosie nicely placed one off the rail and two places back from the early leader Eydon. The latter was overtaken halfway down the back straight by Urban Chic as Christophe Lemaire attempted to inject some urgency into proceedings.

As the field began to turn for home, Guyon went the safe route to the outside of the fading Urban Chic, while Christophe Soumillon took the daring route up the rail aboard Goliath, staying on well for third.

“Everything went very smoothly,” Guyon said, who added to wins in the LONGINES Hong Kong Vase aboard Flintshire (2014) and Junko (2023).

“I followed Los Angeles for three-quarters of the race, but halfway round the home turn, Ryan’s (Moore, jockey) horse began to falter. This horse can really sustain his run, and he is such a hard horse to pass.

“The horse has such a great temperament and he is so easy to put anywhere in a race.”

Earlier this season, Sosie also triumphed in the Group 1 Prix Ganay and the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan.

“He is an incredible horse,” Guyon said. “This was the first time he’d travelled across continents, and yet he’s been relaxed every morning this week, and he’s looked amazing.”

"Same owner, same trainer, same jockey… I'm really happy for us!"

Maxime Guyon landed the prize aboard Junko for the same connections in 2023 and now reacts to guiding Sosie to success in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin…@HKJC_Racing | @HongKong_Racing | #HKIR | #HKRacing pic.twitter.com/OQSy2iQSLP

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 14, 2025

This season’s Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden winner, Goliath, claimed third place. Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa, in the hands of Dylan Browne McMonagle, was fourth, with the Donegal rider stating:

“He ran a super race. He wasn’t the quickest into stride from the gates which wasn’t ideal over this trip but he finished good.”

Los Angeles, in his final race before taking up NH stud duties was fifth home under Ryan Moore, the English jockey saying post race:

“He ran very well, I was happy with him.”

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Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the well-travelled son of Wootton Bassett, is owned by Australian Bloodstock, and is now the favourite for the Melbourne Cup in November.

Absolute demolition job

𝐀𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐚 dazzles from off the speed in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh pic.twitter.com/YKC4KwU22h

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 14, 2025

Ridden by Donegal-born jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, the five-year-old ran out a four-length victor over British raider Amiloc (2/1), in the hands of Rossa Ryan.

Another overseas raider, Al Qareem, trained in Yorkshire by Karl Burke, was third, at 12/1 for rider Clifford Lee.

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