April 12 / 16.55 Leopardstown

16.55

Good To Yielding

P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £35852.17
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • 9 runners
ITV4
View Course
P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £14.60
  • Place: £3.20

Form: 3511- C

Last run: 176 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Short head winner from A Boy Named Susie in the Eyrefield Stakes over 1m1f here last October; extra furlong should suit but would probably need more than a 2lb concession to account for Pierre Bonnard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Christmas Day

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Galloped on relentlessly to win the Derby from Maltese Cross at Epsom, where nearly all the others sank without trace in the gruelling conditions, and ran just as well when he was again ridden prominently to finish second in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good; unraced on firmer) three weeks later, a neck in front of Pierre Bonnard; both of those rivals reoppose and he's now 5lb worse off with Pierre Bonnard, but won't go down without a fight.

5/2

2nd

4

(6)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Christmas Day

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Maiden success was on heavy going and Group 3 Leopardstown win last October was on good-to-yielding; same going description when landing Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown, with James J Braddock back in fifth; outpaced on better ground when third in the Dante, 1 3/4l behind runner-up Action; rose to the occasion when prominently ridden in the Derby, with soft ground evidently in his favour; different conditions now, but his established stamina is a significant positive.

9/2

1st

8

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Christmas Day

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Maiden success was on heavy going; Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding) on April reappearance made it three wins in a row and his Dante third at York (10.2f, good) next time was at least as good on form; while lacking anything like the same dash as winner Item at York, and also unable to get to grips with stablemate Action, he did plug on as if 1m4f could help; it clearly needs to.

16/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 2128-

Last run: 168 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on his previous form when second to stablemate Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland last time; well held on his running at Saint-Cloud, dropping away in the final furlong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(9)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

18:35 Leopardstown

Endorsement

8st 13lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second to subsequent Derby winner Christmas Day in Group 3 Ballysax here (1m2f, good to yielding) in April and again finished close up in Group 3 Derby Trial here; long odds-on when making all in a four-runner Listed race over C&D; good second when dropped back to 1m2f at Royal Ascot; has joined Joseph O'Brien from Ballydoyle.

3/1

2nd

3

(7)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Endorsement

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Cheekpieces fitted in last two races; second to subsequent Derby winner Christmas Day in Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding) in April and again finished close up in Group 3 Derby Trial over same C&D (good) before easy Listed win from the front there (1m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; holds leading form claims.

2/1

1st

2

(1)

4th Jun 2026

Yielding

1m 4f 0y

18:30 Leopardstown

Endorsement

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Second to the current Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini on debut at Killarney; best display at two when second to Pierre Bonnard in the Zetland Stakes; this year's course form involves links to Derby candidates; stuck to his task to take second when Pierre Bonnard flopped in the Ballysax; pick of these on his close third behind James J Braddock and Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial.

2/7

11/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 14422-

Last run: 168 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Debut maiden winner; lost out by only a short head to Christmas Day in the 1m1f Eyrefield Stakes here in October on his fourth start; built on that when 2l second to Pierre Bonnard at Saint-Cloud; does not need to improve much to win a Pattern race; solid chance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(2)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

16:25 Curragh

A Boy Named Susie

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Holds outstanding claims here despite having only a debut win to his name; form last season and this term ties in with several top-class Ballydoyle colts, including when fourth behind three of them in the Prix du Jockey-Club and when splitting Constitution River and Hawk Mountain in the Eclipse.

2/7

2nd

4

(6)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

A Boy Named Susie

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Record of 0-6 since debut success doesn't tell the whole story as he's shown progressive form behind Ballydoyle colts, including the subsequent Derby winner, in last four appearances; did well to finish fourth in the French Derby (10.5f, good) most recently, having met traffic issues and come from a lot further back than the first three; provided the cards drop more kindly, has possibilities in this intriguing rematch with Constitution River and Hawk Mountain.

8/1

3rd

3

(2)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:55 Leopardstown

A Boy Named Susie

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Debut maiden winner; lost out by only a short head to Christmas Day in the 1m1f Eyrefield Stakes here in October on his fourth start; built on that when 2l second to Pierre Bonnard at Saint-Cloud; does not need to improve much to win a Pattern race; solid chance here.

11/2

10/1

Form: 12238- C

Last run: 183 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Split the ill-fated Gewan and Distant Storm in the Acomb at York; then ran well behind Zavateri and stablemate Gstaad in National Stakes at the Curragh; repeated a hard-pulling tendency in the Dewhurst; needs to settle better to do full justice to his ability; hooded now for seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(8)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Italy

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

0-5 since winning on debut at Leopardstown (7f, good) last May and he could do with settling better, while Ryan Moore rides stablemate Endorsement; however, he's run some big races in defeat and could build on April's reappearance fourth in the Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown (1m2f, good to yielding; Endorsement second); might have a part to play.

6/1

4th

5

(5)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:55 Leopardstown

Italy

9st 5lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: A P O’Brien

Split the ill-fated Gewan and Distant Storm in the Acomb at York; then ran well behind Zavateri and stablemate Gstaad in National Stakes at the Curragh; repeated a hard-pulling tendency in the Dewhurst; needs to settle better to do full justice to his ability; hooded now for seasonal debut.

10/1

8th

5

(4)

11th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Italy

9st 3lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Ties in with several of today's rivals on his consistent Group form since debut win; split Gewan and Distant Storm in the Acomb at York on penultimate start, then ran well behind Zavateri and stablemate Gstaad in National Stakes at the Curragh; took a good hold both times, so there's potential for an even bigger effort if he settles better.

9/1

Form: 21-

Last run: 161 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Promising Navan debut when strong finishing 1/2l second over 1m, despite rider losing an iron close home (yielding); impressed in beating two stablemates in testing conditions in a 1m Curragh maiden at the beginning of November; should make the grade at Pattern level
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(7)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

James J Braddock

9st 2lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second start at two yielded a 6l course 1m win on heavy; never able to challenge on return in the Group 3 Ballysax won by Christmas Day; stepped up on that when staying on strongly to beat Pierre Bonnard in the Derby Trial over the same course and trip; coltish in the preliminaries at Epsom; did well in the circumstances to finish third (second-best of the Irish contingent); seems ground-versatile and likely to appreciate this stiff test.

6/1

3rd

10

(13)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

James J Braddock

9st 2lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Second start as 2yo was a 6l win in Curragh maiden (1m, heavy); never able to challenge on return in the Group 3 Ballysax won by Christmas Day and couldn't have left it any later in the Derby Trial back over Leopardstown's 1m2f (good) four weeks ago, but upstaging Pierre Bonnard so dramatically in the latter reinforces the feeling that 1m4f will suit him well; his sire's sole Group 1 win was at this trip; each-way player for trainer and jockey who won the Oaks yesterday.

8/1

1st

2

(3)

10th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:40 Leopardstown

James J Braddock

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Promising Navan debut when strong-finishing 1/2l second over 1m, despite rider losing an iron close home; impressed in beating two stablemates in testing conditions in a 1m Curragh maiden at the beginning of November; got outpaced in the Ballysax on reappearance, kept on late in fifth, around 3l behind Endorsement.

8/1

Form: 52618-

Last run: 176 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Curragh maiden winner; unplaced in races won by Endorsement and Christmas Day; trainer's second string.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 40y

16:07 Navan

South Island

9st 10lb

J: Paddy Harnett

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Curragh 2yo maiden has been highly-tried this season, career-best when beaten 3.5l in Group 3 Ballysax Stakes over this trip; Group 3 Gallinule run since not quite as good, but nonetheless sets a good standard dropped in grade here.

5/4

5th

6

(9)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:15 Curragh

South Island

9st 5lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Course 1m1f maiden winner on the fourth of five starts at two; limitations revealed in two Group 3 Leopardstown events won by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Dante third Christmas Day.

16/1

6th

8

(8)

12th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:55 Leopardstown

South Island

9st 5lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Donnacha Aidan O’Brien

Curragh maiden winner; unplaced in races won by Endorsement and Christmas Day; trainer's second string.

50/1

10/11

Form: 4111- D

Last run: 168 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Made rapid progress to become a top middle-distance prospect after winning a 1m Dundalk maiden; asserted strongly when beating stablemate Endorsement in the Zetland Stakes (1m2f, good to firm); continued his rise with a smart display to beat A Boy Names Susie on very soft ground in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud; sets the standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(2)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Looked every inch a serious Derby prospect last term, which he failed to confirm behind two of these in the mud at Epsom this June but the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good) three weeks later addressed the doubts when he rallied well to finish just a neck behind runner-up Christmas Day; as he receives 5lb today from that rival and from Maltese Cross, that career-best performance puts him clear top on form.

3/1

3rd

6

(1)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Asserted late on to finish firmly on top last October in two 1m2f Pattern events, the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket (good to firm) and Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (very soft); 3yo campaign got off to a low-key start behind Christmas Day in the Ballysax at Leopardstown; much more like it when second to James J Braddock in the Derby Trial at the same venue; jury is out following a short-lived Derby challenge.

12/1

7th

12

(8)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: A P O’Brien

Asserted late on to finish firmly on top last October in a Group 3 at Newmarket (good to firm) and Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (very soft) and they were over 1m2f; 3yo campaign got off to a muted start but he briefly hit the front in Derby Trial at Leopardstown before James J Braddock swooped and Aidan O'Brien has stressed that he went gently with him at home until after that race; his sire and dam's sire were Derby winners (dam won 1m2f Group 1 Nassau) and he now moves up from 1m2f; he looked every inch a serious Derby contender last term and that's probably still the impression to go with.

6/1

Form: 15-

Last run: 168 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Created a strong impression when beating a subsequent Curragh winner by a wide margin on heavy ground at Tipperary on his debut; creditable fifth at Saint-Cloud only three weeks later; held by Pierre Bonnard and A Boy Named Susie but open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(10)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 207y

16:33 Down Royal

Shosholoza

9st 12lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Beat a subsequent winner by a wide margin on heavy ground at Tipperary on his debut last October; creditable fifth behind Pierre Bonnard in Group 1 at Saint-Cloud only three weeks later; soundly beaten in two Group 3s this season; hard to be sure if he can deliver on last year's promise.

8/1

6th

5

(4)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Shosholoza

9st 5lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Beat a subsequent winner by a wide margin on heavy ground at Tipperary on his debut last October; creditable fifth behind Pierre Bonnard in Group 1 at Saint-Cloud only three weeks later; plenty to prove now after failing to feature in the Ballysax at Leopardstown on reappearance.

10/1

Form: 1

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €115.80
Straight Forecast €99.28
Tricast €576.86
Trifecta €367.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

A Boy Named Susie

SPOTLIGHT:

Pierre Bonnard

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Italy

POSTDATA:

A Boy Named Susie

The Irish Sun:

Pierre Bonnard