Ballykinlar

In his five races with Eoin Staples in the saddle, Ballykinlar has won three times — a 60% win rate that stands out sharply against his overall 18% win rate. That kind of partnership matters. Staples appears to understand how to ride this horse, and when they line up together, the chances improve dramatically. The downside is that form has dried up over the past fourteen months; his last win came at Sligo on 20 August 2025, and he hasn't crossed the line first in his last six races. His recent attempts have been scattered — a third-place finish most recently, then failures at the longer odds, including an eleventh-place effort that suggests he's still looking for the right race and conditions.

Ballykinlar runs for Mickey Bowen's yard at Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, a stable sending out winners at a solid clip this season with 52 to their name. The horse shows a clear preference for normal ground conditions, winning 2 of his 6 races on that surface — a 33% win rate that hints at what suits him. Get him on a track he likes, pair him with Staples, and there's a horse capable of picking up another race. Right now he's active and racing regularly, which suggests the yard hasn't given up on him. At seven, he's hardly ancient, but the window for a turnaround is closing. His next win, whenever it comes, will matter.