15.30
HeavyP.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3)
- Prize money: £25652.17
- 1m 2f 0y
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
33/1 (Won)
- Win: £24.50
- Place: £7.50
Form: 38313-
Last run: 176 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 5 (4) |
20th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 5f 143y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Group 3 winner over 1m2f at three; his losing run of 13 includes a fading fourth in this last year (good to firm); likely flattered by his close proximity to Scandinavia in a 1m6f Listed race in April and hasn't fared so well since; even if back on song, this is a tough place for front-runners. |
20/1 |
|
4th 3 (5) |
29th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y |
9st 6lb |
Won 1m2f Group 3 Ballysax Stakes in 2024 (1m2f, heavy); last win was at Dundalk early last year, having faced some stiff tasks since, career-best when front-running second to ready winner Scandinavia in Navan Listed last month; not as good behind same rival since under similar tactics in Group 3 Saval Beg; bit to find on ratings and step up to 2m looks a big ask. |
10/1 |
6/1
- Place: £2.40
Form: 31-
Last run: 173 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 9 (3) |
19th Oct 2024 Soft 1m 7f 127y Class 1 |
9st 1lb |
Won a heavy-ground maiden as 2yo but unraced on softer than good since reappearance; fifth in the 1m4f King Edward VII at Royal Ascot; raised his game markedly when stepped up in trip on his last two outings, finishing fourth to stablemate Kyprios in the 1m6f Irish St Leger and justifying favouritism in the extremely valuable 2m1f Irish Cesarewitch (handicap); blinkered latest outing, replacing visor; may well try to make the running and, given recent form, he'd be much better than a mere pacemaker. |
28/1 |
|
1st 18 (27) |
29th Sep 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 170y |
9st 2lb |
prominent on outer, went second after 6f, led 4f out, pushed along and clear 2f out, pushed out inside final furlong, reduced lead towards finish |
8/1 |
|
4th 8 (8) |
15th Sep 2024 Good 1m 6f 0y |
9st 2lb |
soon led, much reduced lead 6f out, headed under 3f out, weakened and lost two places inside final furlong |
25/1 |
13/8
Form: 13- BF
Last run: 168 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 (2) |
19th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 4y |
9st 11lb |
2024 Queen's Vase winner; second in last year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (good to firm) and runner-up again in the Goodwood Cup (2m, good); flopped when favourite for the Irish St Leger won by Al Riffa; satisfactory return in Ormonde at Chester before a dismal Coronation Cup run; bounced back from that when landing the Queen Alexandra. |
2/1 |
|
1st 8 (13) |
20th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 5f 143y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Finished runner-up in last year's Gold Cup here (good to firm) and second again in the Goodwood version (2m, good), only narrowly failing to concede 14lb to Scandinavia; crystal clear claims on these favourable terms if returning to that level of form but he wasn't at his best when bidding for a second Ormonde at Chester and ran abysmally in the recent Coronation Cup when under the pump from a worryingly early stage (unwise to blame the rain-hit ground when he has soft-ground form); hard to dismiss but in equal measure he's hard to trust. |
3/1 |
|
6th 4 (5) |
6th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 1m 4f 6y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Runner-up in two Cup races last term; only a neck behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in the 2024 St Leger but was beaten about 5l by that opponent last month when bidding for a second success in the Ormonde at Chester, doing nothing to close their current ratings differential; perhaps in here to set the pace and ensure a proper test. |
40/1 |
Form: 11241- C
Last run: 197 days
W: 9st 10lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 (3) |
28th Jun 2025 Good 1m 2f 0y |
9st 9lb |
Group 2 course winner as a juvenile who was only seen once last term; down the field in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last month; that was a tough ask on return from 413 days off and this drop in class looks more suitable; potential pace angle and not ruled out if he can come on for that return. |
3/1 |
|
4 (8) |
25th May 2025 Good 1m 2f 110y |
9st 5lb |
Was 3-5 in a 2023 juvenile campaign; highlighted by a course 1m Group 2 win Beresford Stakes; has raced just once since, well beaten in a Leopardstown Group 3 early last season. |
50/1 |
|
4 (8) |
25th May 2025 Good 1m 2f 110y |
9st 5lb |
Was 3-5 in a 2023 juvenile campaign; highlighted by a course 1m Group 2 win Beresford Stakes; has raced just once since, well beaten in a Leopardstown Group 3 early last season. |
50/1 |
9/4
Form: 1- C
Last run: 169 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 3 |
18th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 1f 30y |
11st 12lb |
Flat winner was beaten 29l on handicap debut last time but can do better today so not discounted. |
14/1 |
|
6th 2 |
8th Mar 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 77y |
12st 0lb |
Won a heavy-ground 1m maiden at Leopardstown in 2023 for Aidan O'Brien; failed to add to his tally for Archie Watson and three maiden hurdle runs since December poor; hard to make a case for entering handicaps but market worth a look. |
12/1 |
|
14th 9 |
5th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 34y |
11st 12lb |
Won a heavy-ground 1m maiden at Leopardstown in October 2023 for Aidan O'Brien; failed to add to his tally for Archie Watson; jumped poorly on hurdling debut at Leopardstown, tailed off at Punchestown. |
100/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €163.90 |
| Straight Forecast | €319.20 |
| Trifecta | €875.30 |