Balkardy

Trained by Mrs C Williams out of Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan — a yard that has sent out 3 winners already this season — Balkardy has been a steady contributor to a family operation. His regular partner is Isabel Williams, who has ridden him in 25 of his 38 races and won 5 of them together, a win rate of roughly 1 in every 5 rides. That kind of long-standing partnership between horse and jockey tends to build a real understanding, and it shows in the numbers.

What makes Balkardy particularly interesting is how well-suited he is to specific conditions. On normal ground he wins at an impressive rate — 4 times from 13 races, or nearly 1 in 3 — and on wet or muddy ground he is almost as effective, winning 2 from 7. The trainer has spoken warmly of his versatility across different surfaces and distances, describing him as "a good one for the small tracks." Ffos Las, the Welsh track closest to his home base, bears that out: he has raced there 13 times and won twice, most recently in June 2025. It is the kind of course record that makes him a name to watch whenever the declarations come out for that track. The bulk of his career has been spent at Class 4 level — the bread and butter of jump racing — and at that level he has won 6 from 18, or 1 in 3 races. That is a genuinely strong return.

Recent form has been quieter. He has not won in his last 6 races, with a second place the only real highlight in that spell. But he raced just yesterday and remains active, which suggests the team have not given up on finding another opportunity for him. At nine, and with this much experience behind him, Balkardy is the kind of honest, durable racehorse that small yards build their seasons around — not flashy, but dependable, and always worth a second look at a track he knows well.