Joseph O'Brien Archives - SportsNewsIreland https://sportsnewsireland.com/tag/joseph-obrien Sports News, Live GAA scores, GAA fixtures Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:25:17 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://sportsnewsireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/sni-icon-36x36.jpg Joseph O'Brien Archives - SportsNewsIreland https://sportsnewsireland.com/tag/joseph-obrien 32 32 Folsom Blues wins Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/folsom-blues-wins-goffs-vincent-obrien-national-stakes https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/folsom-blues-wins-goffs-vincent-obrien-national-stakes#respond Sun, 13 Sep 2026 17:13:56 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36607 Folsom Blues (11/2) and Joey Sheridan won the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday afternoon. The Al Shira’aa Racing-owned two-year-old colt gave Joseph O’Brien another Group 1 victory this weekend following his win in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster yesterday. Incredibly it was a third O’Brien Group 1 […]

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Folsom Blues (11/2) and Joey Sheridan won the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday afternoon.

The Al Shira’aa Racing-owned two-year-old colt gave Joseph O’Brien another Group 1 victory this weekend following his win in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster yesterday.

Incredibly it was a third O’Brien Group 1 success on the card at The Curragh today, as his father Aidan and his younger brother, Donnacha, had already won the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Bar 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes respectively.

Folsom Blues had finished second to Sun Goddess at The Curragh last month was winning at the highest level for the first time.

Sun Goddess had won the earlier Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes under Ryan Moore.

Monogram (9/4 favourite) and Colin Keane were second, also for Joseph O’Brien, while Florida Bay (12/1) and Ronan Whelan finished third.

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Irish Champions Festival – Leopardstown on Saturday https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/irish-champions-festival-leopardstown-on-saturday https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/irish-champions-festival-leopardstown-on-saturday#respond Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:59:31 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36565 The two-day Irish Champions Festival begins at Leopardstown on Saturday, with action the following day at The Curragh. Saturday’s bumper 9-race card at the South County Dublin venue includes three Group 1 races, with the highlight, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the weekend’s feature, going to post at 5.00pm. The three Group 1s are […]

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The two-day Irish Champions Festival begins at Leopardstown on Saturday, with action the following day at The Curragh.

Saturday’s bumper 9-race card at the South County Dublin venue includes three Group 1 races, with the highlight, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, the weekend’s feature, going to post at 5.00pm. The three Group 1s are backed up by a Group 2, a Group 3 and a Listed race, while there are also three Premier Handicaps down for decision.

The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes is usually one of the season’s highlights. The 1m 2 furlong contest for three-year-olds and upwards has seen Aidan O’Brien win six of the last seven editions of the race, with Delacroix (2025), Auguste Rodin (2023), Luxembourg (2022), St Mark’s Basilica (2021), Magical (2019 & 2020).

First three in Juddmonte International re-oppose

On Saturday, the Ballydoyle handler’s main hope will be the Coral-Eclipse winner at Sandown, Constitution River – beaten on his last outing in the Juddmonte International at York last month.

Item, the winner of the Juddmonte International, and Almaqam, the runner-up, will represent Andrew Balding and Ed Walker respectively. There was only a head between the two English-trained runners at York last time, with three lengths back to Constitution River – though Aidan O’Brien did later blame poor race tactics for the defeat of the son of Wootton Bassett.

The 2025 Betfred Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner, Lambourn, has also been declared by the Coolmore partners, as has Hawk Mountain, with both likely to set the pace at different stages of the race.

Jessica Harrington’s recent German Group 1 winner Hotazhell is also among the field, as is A Boy Names Susie, who finished behind Constitution River in both the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, and the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Interestingly, English handler George Scott supplemented his Deauville Group 3 winner Wimbledon Hawkeye at a cost of €75,000, and will be hoping to get some return for the outlay.

Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes

The Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes at 3.55pm is for fillies and mares over a mile. Eight different trainers have won this prize since 2018, and twice it has gone for export – to Karl Burke – with Fallen Angel last season, and Laurens in 2018. Both Donnacha O’Brien (2024, Porta Fortuna) and his brother Joseph (2019, Iridessa) have claimed this contest in recent years, though their father, Aidan, hasn’t won since Hydrangea in 2017.

The race has been good for favourites in recent times, with the past three winning, namely Fallen Angel (9/4), Porta Fortuna (5/4) and Tahiyra (5/6).

English trainers hold strong hand in Matron Stakes

English trainers, Andrew Balding and Karl Burke, hold a strong hand in this year’s renewal. Balding’s Blue Bolt goes in search of a third Group 1, and has had the upper hand this season on four-time Group 1 winner Precise, who re-opposes on Saturday.

Last season’s winner of this race, Fallen Angel, returns to defend her crown, but has only raced twice this season – something which might be seen as a disadvantage to her. Karl Burke, however, has an excellent success rate in Ireland, and should never be discounted.

Paddy Twomey, who trained the winner in 2022, Pearls Galore, will be represented by City Of Memphis, a filly he nominated for this race earlier this year. The Betfred 1000 Guineas winner, True Love, will join her stable companion, Precise, in the 9-runner Group 1.

Ireland’s Newest Group 1

The HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes for two-year-olds over one mile and one furlong is Ireland’s newest Group 1.

Aidan O’Brien, who had a good record in the race when it was a Group 2 contest, took three of the last four renewals of the juvenile event. Having won with Benvenuto Cellini (2025), Diego Velazquez (2023) and Auguste Rodin (2022), the Wexford-born trainer is responsible for four of the 10 runners this year. The Coolmore-Ballydoyle team will be represented by Aix La Chapelle, Shakespeare, Victory Speech and Darkness Falls – the latter the mount of Ryan Moore.

Nola Soul won the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June for Fozzy Stack, and has course form. Green Dreamer, from the Joseph O’Brien yard, is another course winner, while British trainers Charlie Appleby and Charlie Johnston have Quest For Stars and Pikachu respectively in the race.

Races and Times

1.35pm Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle Stakes (Listed)

2.10pm The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Premier Handicap

2.45pm The HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes (Group 1)

3.15pm The Kilternan Stakes (Group 3)

3.55pm The Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (Group 1)

4.25pm The TonyBet Solonaway Stakes (Group 2)

5.00pm The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)

5.35pm The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Premier Handicap

6.10pm The HKJC WorldPool Autumn Fillies Premier Handicap

Patrons can pay at the turnstiles on both Saturday and Sunday, and ticket details and prices are available on the Irish Champions Festival website.

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Can Mullins land another Sky Bet Ebor? https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/can-mullins-land-another-sky-bet-ebor https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/can-mullins-land-another-sky-bet-ebor#respond Sat, 22 Aug 2026 04:13:36 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36481 Saturday is Sky Bet Ebor Day at York, with the one mile five furlongs and 188 yards race the feature of a seven-race card. Love Me Tender, a German purchase for Willie Mullins, heads the market for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, as the Closutton handler bids to win this race for the third time […]

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Saturday is Sky Bet Ebor Day at York, with the one mile five furlongs and 188 yards race the feature of a seven-race card.

Love Me Tender, a German purchase for Willie Mullins, heads the market for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, as the Closutton handler bids to win this race for the third time in four years. The four-year-old, who hasn’t run for almost 300 days, will be the mount of William Buick, and is in the same ownership as last year’s winner, Ethical Diamond.

Galway maiden hurdle winner, Mr Hollywood, is another Closutton representative and the third-place finisher in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot will have the assistance of Saffie Osborne.

Colin Keane, Andrew Balding and Juddmonte have all had a very successful week at York, and they could have another win here with Tarriance. A previous course and distance winner, the four-year-old gelding had a nice prep race for the Ebor when fourth at Goodwood 21 days ago.

Ryan Moore is booked to ride Emit for Joseph O’Brien. Fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot in June, the English jockey maintains his partnership with the bay son of Too Darn Hot. This is significant as Moore has often ridden for Willie Mullins in many of the major staying races in Britain. Choosing to remain loyal to the Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd gelding should not be overlooked.

Poetic Sound will represent Ger Lyons. The five-year-old son of Poet’s Word will wear blinkers for the first time, and he will be ridden by Gary Carroll.

The final Irish runner is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Ascending. He was runner-up to Ethical Diamond in the Sky Bet Ebor last season and had previously won the Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half miles. The mount of Oisín Orr might look a decent each-way bet at around 20/1.

Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

There also the Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes on Saturday with 14 runners going to post.

Puerto Rico and Power Blue will represent Aidan O’Brien and Robson Aguair respectively, but the 2024 Betfred 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner, Notable Speech, will be all the rage to give Charlie Appleby a winner. Incredibly, the Godolphin trainer hasn’t had a runner during the first three days of the four-day meeting.

The Queen Anne Stakes winner at Ascot, Ten Bob Tony, the mount of Kieran Shoemark, was only two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes, so should be involved here, while the Group 2 Lennox Stakes winner, Lake Forest, should also come into the reckoning.

Irish-trained runner at York on Saturday:

1.50 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

Expanded (IRE) A P O’Brien
Geryon (IRE) G M Lyons

2.25 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Limestone (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sharkeyboy (FR) W P Mullins
Bay Of Stars (GB) D K Weld
Vantage Code (IRE) Emmet Mullins

3.00 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 1)

Power Blue (IRE) Robson Aguiar
Puerto Rico (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Mr Hollywood (IRE) W P Mullins
Emit (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Poetic Sound (IRE) G M Lyons
Ascending (IRE) Henry De Bromhead
Love Me Tender (GER) W P Mullins

4.45 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed)

Hanney Boy (IRE) Miss E McCutcheon

5.20 Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Diego El Queso (IRE) G M Lyons

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Bacio dominates Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/bacio-dominates-coolmore-city-of-troy-nunthorpe-stakes https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/bacio-dominates-coolmore-city-of-troy-nunthorpe-stakes#respond Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:58:17 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36475 American raider Bacio (3/1 favourite) led from the stalls to claim a notable victory in the Group 1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday. Trained by Wesley Ward, who had come close to winning this sprint Group 1 before, the Juan Hernandez-ridden son of Maclean’s Music broke smartly from the gates, […]

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American raider Bacio (3/1 favourite) led from the stalls to claim a notable victory in the Group 1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who had come close to winning this sprint Group 1 before, the Juan Hernandez-ridden son of Maclean’s Music broke smartly from the gates, and led all the way.

When ridden by Hernandez inside the final furlong, the three-year-old quickened clear and was never in danger, as he took out a length-and-three-quarters victory for owners Myracehorse, Gladwell, Dailey and Dejablu.

Only beaten once in his racing career to date over five furlongs, when second at Santa Anita in October 2025, the chestnut colt had won his previous race in Britain, in the Palace Of Holyroodehouse Handicap at Royal Ascot in June.

This afternoon, the Rossa Ryan-ridden Starlust (25/1) was second for Ralph Beckett, while Rumpstar (22/1) was third, under Rob Hornby, a nose behind the runner-up.

Al Nayyir takes Lonsdale Cup

Al Nayyir (9/1) outstayed Illinois to win the Group 2 Weatherby’s Lonsdale Cup over 2 miles and 56 yards.

The 8-runner race saw William Buick keep the Tom Clover-handled eight-year-old in mid-division for much of the contest, before making significant headway at the one-furlong pole.

The Ryan Moore-ridden Illinois, who had been prominent throughout, claimed the lead with two furlongs to run. The son of Galileo wasn’t headed until the dying strides of the race, and had to settle for second at 13/2.

Mount Atlas (4/1), for the inform Andrew Balding, took third under P J McDonald, two-and-a-quarter lengths behind the runner-up.

Arapaho Gold wins Gimcrack

The race favourite, Marco Polo (13/8), could only manage eighth place in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Gimcrack Stakes for Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore and the Coolmore partners.

Arapaho Gold (2/1) was a three-quarters-of-a-length winner for Connor Beasley and Michael Dodds, with Final Objective (18/1) second under James Doyle.

Another winner for Colin Keane

Colin Keane bagged another York winner this afternoon when partnering Joseph O’Brien’s Benjamin Hornigold (16/1) to victory in the £100,000 British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes (GBB Race).

Named after an English pirate, the son of Blackbeard had two lengths to spare over Dover Street (40/1) and Pat Dobbs, with Sole Ambition (33/1) third for Kieran Shoemark.

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Kalpana and Colin Keane win Yorkshire Oaks https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/kalpana-and-colin-keane-win-yorkshire-oaks https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/kalpana-and-colin-keane-win-yorkshire-oaks#respond Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:42:31 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36460 Colin Keane and Juddmonte maintained their excellent form at the Sky Bet Ebor meeting at York, as Kalpana won Thursday’s highlight, the Group 1 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks. 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 […]

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Colin Keane and Juddmonte maintained their excellent form at the Sky Bet Ebor meeting at York, as Kalpana won Thursday’s highlight, the Group 1 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks.

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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Kalpana likely to give Juddmonte another Group 1 https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/kalpana-likely-to-give-juddmonte-another-group-1 https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/kalpana-likely-to-give-juddmonte-another-group-1#respond Wed, 19 Aug 2026 23:01:43 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36455 Thursday is the second day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, with the Group 1 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks at 3.35pm the day’s feature. Irish-trained fillies will hold a strong hand in this race with recent Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh, and Aidan O’Brien’s 2025 Yorkshire Oaks victor, Minnie Hauk, leading the […]

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Thursday is the second day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, with the Group 1 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks at 3.35pm the day’s feature.

Irish-trained fillies will hold a strong hand in this race with recent Juddmonte Irish Oaks winner, Johanna Walsh, and Aidan O’Brien’s 2025 Yorkshire Oaks victor, Minnie Hauk, leading the Irish challenge in a race the Ballydoyle handler has taken in five of the past six years. The Irish team will be completed by Jim Bolger’s Sparán Nua and Aidan O’Brien’s Sugar Island.

Juddmonte Farms, winning owners of the Juddmonte International hero yesterday, Item, will likely add another Group 1 with Kalpana here.

The five-year-old daughter of Study Of Man is a multiple winner at the highest level, most recently defeating Calandagan, Benvenuto Cellini, Lambourn and one of today’s opponents, Minnie Hauwk, in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Legacy Link, runner-up to Thundering On in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom in June, is also among the nine-runner field, and will add strength to the Juddmonte challenge.

In the opening Group 2 for fillies, the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, Paddy Twomey (Big Negotiator), Ger Lyons (Livenka) and Joseph O’Brien (Star Of State) will all be represented, with the latter, a recent Leopardstown maiden winner, likely to head the market.

Recent Group 1 Phoenix Stakes winner at The Curragh, Sun Goddess,  £120,000 purchase at the Goffs UK premier yearling sale, qualifies to run in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs at 2.25pm. If she has come out of the Phoenix Stakes well, she should be very difficult to beat in this race. The other Irish contender here is the Donnacha O’Brien-prepared Where Love Lies.

Both Paddy Twomey and Joseph O’Brien have runners in the listed fillies and mares race at 4.10pm. The 97-rated Perfect Your Craft represents the former, while the Carriganóg handler will saddle the consistent, and 98-rated, Vauntingly. Ryan Moore takes the ride aboard Morrophore for John and Thady Gosden and will start the race as favourite.

Irish-trained runners at York on Thursday, 20 August 2026:

1.50 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2)

Big Negotiator (GB) P Twomey
Livenka (GB) G M Lyons
Star Of State (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

2.25 Harry’s Half Million By Goffs (GBB Race)

Where Love Lives (IRE) Donnacha Aidan O’Brien
Sun Goddess (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks (Fillies’ And Mares’ Group 1)

Minnie Hauk (IRE) A P O’Brien
Johanna Walsh (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sparan Nua (IRE) J S Bolger
Sugar Island (IRE) A P O’Brien

4.10 British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Listed) (GBBPlus Race)

Perfect Your Craft (IRE) P Twomey
Vauntingly (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien

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Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap is Galway Tuesday feature https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/colm-quinn-bmw-mile-handicap-is-galway-tuesday-feature https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/colm-quinn-bmw-mile-handicap-is-galway-tuesday-feature#respond Tue, 28 Jul 2026 14:37:19 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36092 Day two of Galway Races 2026 is Tribes Tuesday evening, with the first of an eight-race card going to post at 4.40pm. 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’ […]

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Day two of Galway Races 2026 is Tribes Tuesday evening, with the first of an eight-race card going to post at 4.40pm.

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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Comfort Zone wins €110,000 Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/comfort-zone-wins-e110000-connacht-hotel-q-r-handicap https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/comfort-zone-wins-e110000-connacht-hotel-q-r-handicap#respond Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:39:15 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=36085 Joseph O’Brien landed the day one feature at the Galway Races, the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap with Comfort Zone (18/1). 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 […]

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Joseph O’Brien landed the day one feature at the Galway Races, the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap with Comfort Zone (18/1).

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.

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.

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.

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Christmas Day & Ronan Whelan Win Betfred Derby at Epsom https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/christmas-day-ronan-whelan-win-betfred-derby-at-epsom https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/christmas-day-ronan-whelan-win-betfred-derby-at-epsom#respond Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:13:09 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=35807 Christmas Day came early for jockey Ronan Whelan as he won his first Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday afternoon. A son of Coolmore stallion Camelot, Christmas Day (7/1) was a two-and-three-quarter length winner over the Tom Marquand-ridden Maltese Cross (12/1). James J Braddock, the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle, took third for trainer Joseph […]

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Christmas Day came early for jockey Ronan Whelan as he won his first Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday afternoon.

A son of Coolmore stallion Camelot, Christmas Day (7/1) was a two-and-three-quarter length winner over the Tom Marquand-ridden Maltese Cross (12/1).

James J Braddock, the mount of Dylan Browne McMonagle, took third for trainer Joseph O’Brien, two-and-a-half lengths behind the William Haggas-handled runner-up.

The victory of Christmas Day, in the Coolmore colours, was a 12th win in the race for Aidan O’Brien, who becomes the first trainer to win the race four years in-a-row following the successes of Lambourn (2025), City Of Troy (2024) and Auguste Rodin (2023).

It is also a 50th British classic win for the County Wexford-born handler – his first coming with King Of Kings in the 1998 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The pre-race favourite Benvenuto Cellini, the mount of Ryan Moore, was declared a non-runner after a stewards’ inquiry post-race. The son of Frankel had one leg caught on a bar in the stalls as the race began. As a result, stewards deemed that he was denied a chance of winning and declared him a non-runner.

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Thundering On Gives Dylan Browne McMonagle a First British Classic Success https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/thundering-on-gives-dylan-browne-mcmonagle-a-first-british-classic-success https://sportsnewsireland.com/racing/thundering-on-gives-dylan-browne-mcmonagle-a-first-british-classic-success#respond Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:57:38 +0000 https://www.sportsnewsireland.com/?p=35802 Thundering On (5/1) and Dylan Browne McMonagle landed the Group 1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom on Friday afternoon. 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 […]

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Thundering On (5/1) and Dylan Browne McMonagle landed the Group 1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom on Friday afternoon.

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.

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.

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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