15:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 11 April 2021

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

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

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 2m 11.61s

(3)

Flying Visit¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 103| BF| C

33/1

Useful gelding. Course winner. Latest win here in October. 7/2, ninth of 11 in nursery at Naas (6f, heavy). Off 155 days. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 122219-

(2)

Bolshoi Ballet¹⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 108| C

2/1

Promising type. Course winner. One win from 2 runs last year. 2 lengths fifth of 7 to Gear Up in Criterium de Saint-Cloud (49/10) at Saint-Cloud (9.9f, heavy). Off 169 days. Standard bearer.

Form: 315-

(4)

Catena Zapata¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Lee| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 88

50/1

One win from 2 runs last year. Winner at Dundalk in December. 12/1, third of 11 in minor event at Dundalk (8f) 16 days ago, hampered. Up in trip. Huge step forward required.

Form: 71-3

(7)

Fernando Vichi²¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gavin Ryan| T: Donnacha O'Brien| OR: 98| C

10/1

Course winner. 7½ lengths fourth of 9 to Cadillac in Champions Juvenile Stakes at this course (8f, good, 5/1), not ideally placed. Off 7 months. Up in trip. Open to improvement.

Form: 214-

(6)

Isle Of Sark¹⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Crosse| T: J P O'Brien

15/2

Won 14-runner maiden at Dundalk (7f, 5/6) on debut, readily. Off 146 days. Significantly up in trip and will improve, but this is a difficult ask.

Form: 1-

(1)

Lough Derg¹⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien

10/3

11/1, won 14-runner maiden at Dundalk (8f) on debut. Off 156 days. Up in trip and sure to progress.

Form: 1-

(5)

Taipan¹⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington

5/1

Won 18-runner maiden at Naas (8f, heavy, 7/1) on debut, despite being slowly away. Off 161 days. Up in trip. Expected to improve.

Form: 1-

(8)

Wuqood¹⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Colin Keane| T: D K Weld| OR: 102

13/2

Promising type. One win from 3 runs last year. Head second of 9 to Flying Visit in Eyrefield Stakes at this course (9f, soft, 7/1). Off 169 days and enters calculations on return.

Form: 172-

Forecasts

Bolshoi Ballet (2/1), Lough Derg (10/3), Taipan (5/1), Wuqood (13/2), Isle Of Sark (15/2), Fernando Vichi (10/1), Flying Visit (33/1), Catena Zapata (50/1)

BOLSHOI BALLET was far from disgraced when fifth in a Group 1 just a week on from winning a maiden in the autumn and he sets the clear standard with the promise of more to come as a 3-y-o. Wuqood is just about second choice on form though there are several unknown quantities, notably Lough Derg and Taipan.