Ballydisco

Both wins came in a short burst back in spring 2023 — first at Ffos Las in March, then at Chepstow the following month. That kind of purple patch is worth noting: two wins in five weeks suggests a horse that had found its confidence and its conditions. The problem is that was 39 months ago, and Ballydisco has not been back to the winner's enclosure since. Six races without a win is the current streak, and the recent form figures — a second and a third mixed in with some blanks — paint the picture of a horse that is competitive on its day but not quite getting over the line.

The partnership with amateur rider Mr Ben Sutton is one of the more interesting angles here. Of the 12 races they have tackled together, Sutton has been on board for both wins — a win rate of 17%, or roughly 1 in every 6 races. That is comfortably better than Ballydisco's overall record and suggests the pair have a real understanding. If Sutton is in the saddle, it is worth paying attention.

Trainer Tom Lacey, who operates out of Woolhope in Herefordshire and has sent out 37 winners this season alone, has clearly retained belief in the horse. After a disappointing return run at Ffos Las, Lacey was quick to put a line through that effort, describing Ballydisco as a nice horse and flagging that a switch to fences — rather than hurdles — could unlock something new. That is a meaningful comment. A change of discipline at this stage of a horse's career is essentially a reset, a fresh challenge, and Lacey's yard is clearly in good enough form to know when a horse is worth persevering with. The class profile — nearly all of Ballydisco's races have been at Class 4 level, the fourth tier of British racing — tells you this is not a horse chasing the big prizes, but rather one quietly competing at a level that suits it. Whether the fences bring out the best remains to be seen.