Ballystone

The career arc has a neat shape to it. The first win came at Ballinrobe in May 2023, and then more than two years passed before Ballystone returned to the winner's enclosure at Galway in August 2025. Galway is one of the most atmospheric racing festivals in Ireland, a week where the crowds are huge and the competition is serious, so landing a race there is not nothing. That win was nine months ago, and the recent form since — finishing eighth and eleventh before a couple of fourth-place efforts and then, most recently, a win — suggests a horse that has found its level and knows how to pick its moment.

The most recent result is the one to focus on. A win, bang at the top of the form line, just one day ago. Whatever has been going on across the earlier part of that six-race sequence, Ballystone finished it with a victory, which is exactly the kind of form you want to see.

In the saddle, Mr A Harvey has been the regular partner, riding Ballystone in 5 of its 12 career races and winning once together — a 20% win rate from those rides, or 1 win from every 5 they have paired up. That is a solid enough partnership. Behind the scenes, trainer John C McConnell operates out of Stamullen in Co Meath, and his yard has been in fine fettle this season, sending out 42 winners. A trainer in that kind of form tends to have horses fit, confident, and running at the right targets — which makes Ballystone's recent victory feel even more like it was set up carefully rather than stumbled into.