That one win came at Bangor-on-Dee in June 2025, and it remains the highlight of the career so far. Bangor is a tight, turning track in North Wales that suits certain horses particularly well, and winning there is no accident — it requires a horse that handles the bends and keeps finding more when it matters. The fact that Ballylicky Bay has gone 6 races since without winning does take some shine off things, but at Class 4 level, where the competition is competitive and margins are small, placing five times in that run is not nothing.
Paul O'Brien has been in the saddle for 7 of those 8 races, which shows the team clearly trusts him with the ride. Together they have won 1 from 7 — roughly 1 in every 7 races — which is not a spectacular number but reflects the broader story of a horse that is consistent without quite being dominant. Trainer Kevin Pickard has sent out 2 winners this season, so the yard is ticking along quietly rather than setting the world alight.
What is perhaps most telling about Ballylicky Bay is the recent form: the last six runs read 2-3-5-5-5-8 from most recent back, which shows a horse that was running well enough to place just a couple of runs ago and has been finding its feet since. Racing just one day ago, it is clearly fit and active, which at least counts for something heading into whatever comes next.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick Sharp |
2 | 2 other | 8 Mar | 0% |
| Worcester Galloping |
2 | 1 second, 1 third | 1 Jul | 0% |
| Bangor-on-Dee Sharp |
1 | 1 win | 21 Jun | 100% |
| hereford | 1 | 1 other | 25 Nov | 0% |
| Wetherby Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 31 Oct | 0% |
| Fontwell Park Tight |
1 | 1 other | 8 Apr | 0% |