Thorne can be on side of punters with ‘Edge’ primed to plunder feature

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Dunum, trained by Natalia Lupini and ridden by Billy Lee, aims for consecutive wins in the €120,000 Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at Galway despite a nearly year-long break from racing. The race’s unpredictability and history of repeat winners highlight Dunum’s experience as a key advantage against promising challengers like Jagged Edge, making the event highly competitive.

Dunum, trained by Natalia Lupini, aims to secure back-to-back victories in today’s Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap at Galway’s Ballybrit Racecourse. The eight-year-old has a strong record at Galway with multiple top-three finishes, including a victory last year. Despite a 318-day absence from racing, Dunum remains a key contender, carrying the experience of jockey Billy Lee in an 18-runner field. The race, valued at €120,000, has not seen a winning favorite in its last seven editions but has recently favored repeat winners such as Riven Light in 2018 and Saltonstall in 2020.

Among the challengers is Jagged Edge, a four-year-old Blue Point gelding trained by Stephen Thorne. Having debuted less than 18 months ago, Jagged Edge has quickly amassed three wins in seven outings, including a victory in last year’s Irish Cambridgeshire under trainer Dermot Weld. The horse showed a strong performance finishing midfield in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and recently delivered a convincing win at Naas. Thorne, who has made significant strides since becoming a trainer, is running three horses in the race. Jack Kearney will partner Jagged Edge, who is considered a promising contender and a potential stakes performer later in the season.

Weld’s influence at Galway is also evident in the fillies’ maiden race at 6:15 p.m., where his Silver Kiss is viewed as a strong hope. Weld’s record includes 15 wins since 1990 in this event with notable past winners such as Tahiyra (2022) and Eziyra (2016). Other key runners include The Good Wife, a newcomer trained by Paddy Twomey expected to have a bright future, and Madam Secretary from Aidan O’Brien’s stable, who seeks a win after two previous attempts. Danny Murphy’s Argentarius showed considerable promise on debut, narrowly missing victory at Cork, and is anticipated to improve under the guidance of trainer Ben Coen.

The day’s action began with the Listed Colm Quinn Novice Hurdle, notable for its unpredictability. No favorite has won in recent years, with winners emerging at longer odds. Gordon Elliott sends two hopefuls, Lizzie Twigg and Porcupine Bank, both aiming to build on recent successes, with jockey Jack Kennedy choosing Lizzie Twigg for the mount. Porcupine Bank, ridden by Sam Ewing, looks to be good value given consistent performances. The Henry de Bromhead-trained Gomez Addams, a course winner, also enters the fray.

In the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase at 5:10 p.m., Willie Mullins’ Love Me Tender is partnered by Harry Cobden, who recently took on lead jockey duties for JP McManus and is expected to be a regular in Ireland. Mullins’ My Great Mate is regarded as the strongest contender among his Closutton trio. Other interesting entries include Bowensonfire, making his chasing debut for Elliott, and Denis Hogan’s Frankie John, who recently transitioned from hurdling and has shown promise in early big-race appearances. Hogan's charge could provide a significant challenge in what is anticipated to be a competitive and intriguing contest.

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