15:45 Leopardstown

Saturday 2 April 2022

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:25

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

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 2m 9.80s

1^st

(4)

Piz Badile

39-5

4/1

T: Donnacha O'BrienJ: Gavin Ryan

Close up, mid-division after 2f, progress to 3rd under 3f out, closed on inner under 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, strongly pressed over 1f out, headed under 1f out, rallied to lead final strides op 5/1 tchd 9/2

2^nd

(7)

Buckaroo

39-5

9/2

T: J P O'BrienJ: S M Crosse

Towards rear, 9th halfway, rapid headway on outer 1 1/2f out, strongly challenged leader over 1f out, led narrowly under 1f out, kept on, headed final strides op 4/1

3^rd

3 ¾

(3)

Duke De Sessa

39-8

10/3f

T: D K WeldJ: Chris Hayes

Towards rear, 8th halfway, headway on outer over 1f out, soon ridden, improved to 3rd final 150 yards, kept on, not trouble principals tchd 4/1

4^th

1 ¾

(1)

Bluegrass

39-5

11/2

T: A P O'BrienJ: R L Moore

Soon led narrowly, headed after 3 1/2f, 2nd halfway, niggled along over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, dropped to 3rd over 1f out, no extra in 4th final 150 yards op 5/1 tchd 13/2

5^th

(6)

More Felons

39-5

17/2

T: A P O'BrienJ: Wayne Lordan

In rear, 7th halfway, headway on inner 1 1/2f out, soon ridden in 4th, kept on same pace in 5th closing stages op 8/1 tchd 13/2

6^th

5 ½

(8)

Swan Bay

39-5

7/1

T: J P O'BrienJ: Declan McDonogh

Prominent, dropped to 6th halfway, effort and progress over 2f out, lost place and weakened 1 1/2f out tchd 6/1

7^th

(2)

Absolute Ruler

39-5

40/1

T: Donnacha O'BrienJ: Killian Leonard

Mid-division, 4th halfway, under pressure and lost place 2 1/2f out, ridden in 7th 1 1/2f out, weakened final furlong op 33/1

8^th

(5)

Manu Et Corde

39-5

10/1

T: J S BolgerJ: K J Manning

Tracked leader in close 2nd, a little keen in 3rd halfway, lost place and weakened 2 1/2f out

9^th

2 ½

(9)

Vina Sena

39-5

18/1

T: H De BromheadJ: Billy Lee

Ran freely in rear, rapid headway after 3f, soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly under 2f out op 25/1

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:€5.00Pl:€1.80, €1.20, €1.50EX:€19.70Trifecta:€81.60SF:€22.62

Forecasts

Duke De Sessa (10/3), Piz Badile (4/1), Buckaroo (9/2), Bluegrass (11/2), Swan Bay (7/1), More Felons (17/2), Manu Et Corde (10/1), Vina Sena (18/1), Absolute Ruler (40/1)

BUCKAROO improved with each run last year, culminating with his Group 1 fourth in France in the autumn, and is selected to advance his form again and make a successful reappearance. Aidan O'Brien has won the last 4 runnings of this so it's likely his Bluegrass will be involved at the finish. Piz Badile and Duke de Sessa are others to consider.