15:30 Leopardstown

Sunday 7 April 2024

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:12

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

  • 3YO only  |   Class 1  |   1m 2f  |   Heavy  |   5 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:30  |   Winning time: 2m 23.39s
1st
Horse silk
2
(3)
50/1
T: A MurrayJ: J A Heffernan
Soon led, narrowly headed halfway, pushed along to dispute 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, 2-length advantage 1f out, kept on well final furlong op 66/1
2nd
Horse silk
3
5
(1)
7/1
T: A P O'BrienJ: D McMonagle
Held up behind leaders, 4th halfway, ridden 3 1/2f out, stayed on into 2nd 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression on winner op 8/1 tchd 17/2
3rd
Horse silk
2 ¼
3
(4)
8/11f
T: A P O'BrienJ: R L Moore
Settled behind leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along 3 1/2f out, ridden over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, kept on one pace final furlong op 4/7
4th
Horse silk
5 ½
1
(5)
39-10
11/2
T: P TwomeyJ: W J Lee
Disputed briefly, soon tracked leader, led narrowly halfway, ridden over 2f out, joined 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th under 1f out, kept on one pace op 9/2
5th
Horse silk
23
4
(2)
7/2
T: A P O'BrienJ: W M Lordan
Held up in rear, ridden and no extra 3f out, soon weakened, tailed off op 5/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€51.00Pl:€7.50, €2.40EX:€163.90Trifecta:€875.30SF:€319.20

Forecasts

Illinois (8/11), Ocean Of Dreams (7/2), Deepone (11/2), The Euphrates (7/1), Dallas Star (50/1)

Verdict

OCEAN OF DREAMS has been passed over by Ryan Moore in favour of Illinois, but it's worth noting that two of the last four Aidan O'Brien-trained winners of this were supposedly stable second-strings. The Fastnet Rock colt was most impressive when winning his maiden here during the autumn and he gets the nod. Illinois did little wrong in his two starts as a juvenile, latterly finishing third in a French Group 1, and he is greatly respected. The penalised Deepone also has claims.

  1. OCEAN OF DREAMS (IRE)
  2. ILLINOIS (IRE)
  3. DEEPONE

Previous Winners

2023
White Birch
Weight: 9-5  |Age: 3
J: S Foley  |  T: J J Murphy
22/1

Prize Money

1st: €30,000.002nd: €10,000.003rd: €5,000.004th: €2,500.005th: €1,500.006th: €1,000.00

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