15:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 30 March 2025

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

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

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 2m 6.15s

(2)

Delacroix¹⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116| BF

4/7

Dubawi colt who improved from run to run as a juvenile, gamely landing Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket (1m) in October. Signed off with an excellent nose second in Futurity (1m) at Doncaster so big shout on his return with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Form: 21212-

(5)

Kibris¹⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: J P O'Brien

12/1

Lope De Vega colt made a promising start when bagging 27-runner maiden at the Curragh (8f, good to soft) 147 days ago. Has lots more to offer stepping up in trip. No forlorn hope for good yard.

Form: 1-

(6)

Lambourn¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101

9/1

Useful colt. 7/1 and blinkered for 1st time, 7¾ lengths last of 5 to Hotazhell in Beresford Stakes at the Curragh (8f, good) 6 months ago. Can bounce back on his seasonal return.

Form: 115-

(4)

Puppet Master¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| BF

9/2

Promising Camelot colt built on his Galway maiden victory when an excellent fourth of 7 to Wimbledon Hawkeye in Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (8f, good to soft) 6 months ago. Has more to offer now his stamina is drawn out. In the picture.

Form: 214-

(3)

Tiberius Thunder⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Egan| T: A Murray

12/1

Highly promising Night of Thunder colt who made a winning debut in 11-runner maiden at Dundalk (8f, 8/15) 44 days ago. Open to significant improvement and shouldn't be underestimated for last year's winning yard.

Form: 1

(7)

Spicy Margarita²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Lee| T: A Murray| OR: 87

66/1

Progressive son of Earthlight bagged 7f maiden at Dundalk in February before posting a very good second of 5 in conditions event there (8f, 12/1) 23 days ago. This is much tougher though.

Form: 6-12

(1)

Wemightakedlongway¹⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Browne McMonagle| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 102

18/1

Got off the mark in 1m maiden at Cork and advanced his form when a close third of 6 to Sigh No More in Eyrefield Stakes here (9f, soft) later in October. This demands another big step forward however.

Form: 313-

Forecasts

Delacroix (4/7), Puppet Master (9/2), Lambourn (9/1), Tiberius Thunder (12/1), Kibris (12/1), Wemightakedlongway (18/1), Spicy Margarita (66/1)

Aidan O'Brien holds a typically strong hand in this Group 3 event and his highly progressive juvenile DELACROIX can resume winning ways having just been touched off in Doncaster's Futurity Stakes last backend and put himself firmly in the Derby picture. Stablemate Puppet Master should also find this step up to 1m2f very much to his benefit and rates the main threat with the unexposed Dundalk maiden scorer Tiberius Thunder not discounted either for last year's winning stable.