15.45
YieldingP.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes (Group 3)
- Prize money: £29256.2
- 1m 2f 0y
- 7 runners
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Runners: 7 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
8/15 (Won)
- Win: £1.58
- Place: £1.10
Form: 21212- BF
Last run: 155 days
W: 9st 8lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 9 (4) |
18th Oct 2025 Good 1m 1f 212y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Ballydoyle colt who is progressive in the main; justified favouritism in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown (good to yielding) most recently, taking his form figures over 1m2f to 11121 and overall strike-rate to 6-11; unable to match Ombudsman's late acceleration in the International but had got up late on to collar that rival in the Eclipse and is set for another gripping rematch. |
3/1 |
|
1st 5 (8) |
13th Sep 2025 Soft 1m 2f 0y |
9st 3lb |
Won two Derby trials over C&D and bounced back from Epsom failure to win the Eclipse at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm); deserved much credit for overhauling Ombudsman late on, having found trouble in running in the straight; beaten by the same top-class rival at York; reputation largely restored all the same; major player for stable denied six in a row in this last year. |
10/11 |
|
2nd 6 (3) |
20th Aug 2025 Good To Firm 1m 2f 56y Class 1 |
9st 1lb |
Won two Derby trials this spring and bounced back from Derby disappointment to win the Group 1 Eclipse at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) last month; he deserves immense credit for overhauling Ombudsman late on last time having found trouble in running in the straight and got behind, and it was a performance that suggests he could take plenty of beating today. |
15/8 |
16/1
- Place: £4.00
Form: 115-
Last run: 183 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 101
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 (2) |
8th May 2026 Good 1m 2f 70y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Very much at the top his generation last year, winning the Chester Vase at this meeting before going on to classic glory at Epsom and the Curragh (all three wins over 1m4f on good ground); he was undeniably disappointing in the Great Voltigeur (1m4f, good to firm) and St Leger (14.5f, soft), but this looks a good starting point for his 4yo career given the race conditions and he should take the beating if anything like back to his best; cheekpieces are given a go. |
6/4 |
|
4th 3 (1) |
13th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 1m 6f 115y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Set the pace when winning the Derby at Epsom by nearly 4l and helped to set it when he dug deep to follow up in Irish Derby at the Curragh (again 1m4f on good) later in June; 3l fifth when 4-5 in the Great Voltigeur at York last month looked disappointing, notwithstanding the sprint from early in the straight, but his trainer has stressed that it was a stepping stone to bigger prizes in the autumn; the two Derby wins suggest this trip won't be a problem and they are the best form in this field. |
11/4 |
13/2
Form: 1
Last run: 44 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 7 (1) |
24th May 2026 Good To Yielding 1m 2f 110y |
9st 5lb |
Showed improved effort here last time when beaten 6.5l behind Minnie Hauk (1m2f, good); that was a step in the right direction but it's still hard to see him playing any major role. |
80/1 |
|
4th 3 (4) |
4th May 2026 Good 1m 2f 0y |
9st 5lb |
Won at Dundalk before a creditable third behind Delacroix and Lambourn in last year's Ballysax Stakes; confirmed a good standard when fourth of 12 in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot; ran better than finishing his position implies when eighth of nine in the Saratoga Derby; unsuited by soft ground in Naas event won by Beset. |
20/1 |
5/1
Form: 214- BF
Last run: 183 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 106
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 8 (10) |
23rd May 2026 Good To Yielding 1m 4f 0y |
9st 7lb |
Ex Ballydoyle-trained; won Lingfield Derby Trial last year but well held in both Irish Derby and Irish St Leger; bought for 78,000gns and soundly beaten on yard debut in Grade 2 Leopardstown hurdle at Christmas; tried in a tongue-tie here and plenty on his plate in what looks a hot Listed race. |
16/1 |
|
5 (3) |
16th Aug 2025 Good 1m 6f 0y |
9st 0lb |
3yo represents stable that has won this nine times, including last year; built on promise of reappearance effort behind Delacroix when winning the Derby Trial at Lingfield (11.5f, gd-fm); off since below par effort in the Irish Derby; gets weight from his older rivals but needs to prove stamina for this trip (mixed messages in pedigree); obvious chance if he stays. |
9/4 |
|
5 (7) |
29th Jun 2025 Good 1m 4f 0y |
9st 2lb |
Kept on for fourth behind Delacroix (2 1/2l off runner-up Lambourn) in the 1m2f Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown on reappearance; suited by the step up in trip when winning the Lingfield Derby Trial (Listed) by a short head from stablemate Stay True; missed engagement in the King Edward VII Stakes; looks second-best of a Ballydoyle quintet. |
12/1 |
8/1
Form: 313-
Last run: 162 days
W: 9st 2lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 9 (7) |
23rd May 2026 Soft 1m 2f 100y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Last season's best performances came in Group 1s when runner-up in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh (1m4f, good) and very close fourth in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp (1m2f, very soft); flopped on last month's reappearance at Cork, which is disconcerting, but she's a leading player if leaving that performance behind in first-time cheekpieces. |
7/2 |
|
7th 8 (2) |
4th Apr 2026 Soft 1m 4f 25y |
9st 2lb |
Won a Navan 1m2f Listed race on soft last year; loads of good runs in defeat after in Group 1s up to 1m4f including in Oaks/Irish Oaks and a French Group 1; is ground-versatile and rated 110 so is the one to beat if ready enough on return. |
6/4 |
8/1
Form: 1-
Last run: 147 days
W: 9st 5lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 12 |
14th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 47y Class 4 |
10st 13lb |
Useful Flat winner at the start of his career but failed to progress in juvenile hurdles last season after a promising start; also well held back on the Flat at the Curragh six weeks ago (final start for Joseph O'Brien); more than capable of making his presence felt in a race like this if putting his best foot forward but starts out for a new yard (same owners) with a point to prove. |
7/2 |
|
14th 7 (14) |
3rd Apr 2026 Soft 1m 0f 0y |
9st 4lb |
Looked potentially smart when landing C&D maiden in November 2024; didn't reach heights expected in four starts in Group, conditions and handicap company last season but had a couple of good runs over hurdles in recent months; acts on soft and big-field handicap could be right up his street. |
18/1 |
|
2 |
26th Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Flat winner (yld-sft) has shown promise in all three maiden hurdles at around 2m on varying ground; got to within 2.5l of Wizard Of Odds in a Cork maiden (2m, good) and that horse finished 5.5l ahead of Bibe Mus on his next start; opening mark looks fair and could go well with jockey claiming 5lb. |
5/2 |
33/1
Form: 6-12
Last run: 23 days
W: 9st 2lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 87
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 8 (6) |
3rd Apr 2026 Soft 1m 0f 0y |
9st 11lb |
Sole win in 14 starts came in Dundalk AW maiden in February of last year; highly tried since, best run over C&D last April when beaten 2.25l into fourth by One Look in this race last year; returned on the AW 28 days ago when beaten 4l into fifth by stablemate California Dreamer; needs plenty more. |
33/1 |
|
5th 6 (3) |
6th Mar 2026 Standard 1m 0f 0y |
9st 0lb |
Like stablemate California Dreamer, hasn't won since landing a course maiden (7f) last February; highly tried afterwards, standout run when fourth in Curragh Group 3 over this trip; absent since tailed off in Naas Listed event in October; market can separate yard's runners. |
9/2 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €7.30 |
| Straight Forecast | €6.78 |
| Trifecta | €34.70 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
DelacroixThe Irish Sun:
Tiberius ThunderRP RATINGS (IRE):
DelacroixTOPSPEED:
DelacroixPOSTDATA:
Delacroix