John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap

19:13 Clonmel Wed 16 Sep 2026 2m0f174y Good 8 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Gallo Dell Cielo

SPECULATIVE Advised 9/4 Est. 35%

🥈 2ND

Mr Fox says

Gallo Dell Cielo (SR 72, 9/4) is the clear class leader in a modest qualifier field where the next-best SR is 66. His form reads 71-151 — a recent win followed by a runner-up suggests peak fitness, and his DistFit:+ confirms he is proven at today's 2m+ trip. As Patrick J Flynn's most able runner of the three declared (highest SR, most experienced jockey booking in Mr D Doyle, and market favourite at 9/4), he is the yard's #1 choice. The MarkMv:+10 means he runs off a slightly higher mark than at his last win, which is the one caveat, but his SR advantage of 6+ points over the field makes that manageable. The going is Good, which is tolerable for him (GoingFit:~), and at 9/4 the market is already pricing his class edge correctly. Each-way alternative: Rich Belief. Main danger: Rich Belief — Rich Belief (SR 66, 7/2) has steamed in 8% in the market, carries a MarkMv:-55 meaning he is racing off a mark well below his last win level, and his trainer Karl Thornton hits at 14% — meaningful in a small field — making him the most credible threat to Gallo Dell Cielo.

Verify· #18111

Full result

Winner: Cornmarket (IRE) at SP 10/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Cornmarket John J Cullen · Mr L P Shanahan 3/1
2 Gallo Dell Cielo Fox #1 Patrick J Flynn · Mr D Doyle 9/4
3 Rich Belief Fox #2 Karl Thornton · Mr D McGill 11/4
4 Duke Otto Patrick J Flynn · Mr B M Coonan 11/1
5 Piatra Neamt S M Duffy · Ms A M Connolly(2) 12/1
6 Miss Gitana Joseph Anthony Murray · Mr J R Martin(2) 8/1
7 Peace Walk Eamonn O'Connell · Mr J Dunne 12/1
— Highlander Addict Fox #3 Patrick J Flynn · Mr P J Smullen(2) 15/2

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Gallo Dell Cielo 9/4 🥈 2ND
2 Rich Belief 7/2 🥉 3RD
3 Highlander Addict 13/2