Key Points
- Today’s betting tip caught my attention at the Cheltenham Festival
- This horse will absolutely relish the current ground conditions
- We could be looking at a Graded horse in a Handicap here
We have seen some tremendous action during the opening two days of the 2026 Punchestown Festival, with the sensational performance from Gaelic Warrior in the Punchestown Gold Cup being the highlight to date. We move into Day 3 of the meeting now and I have a selection from the 2m 0.5f Listed Handicap Chase. This horse caught my attention at the Cheltenham Festival and hopefully he can deliver for us here.
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Betting advice
- 16:50 Punchestown -
Ballysax Hank
@ 10/1 (5 places) -
1pt each way
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Ballysax Hank knows how to win a valuable handicap!
Ballysax Hank went across the Irish Sea to Market Rasen where he turned the Summer Plate Handicap Chas,e worth £100,000, into a procession. He cut through the field and won it by five lengths going away! I think he can land another valuable Handicap here at the Punchestown Festival and in this article, I’ll explain why!
Ballysax Hank caught my attention at the Cheltenham Festival
Despite having form over further, Ballysax Hank was dropped back to 2m at the Cheltenham Festival to take part in the Grand Annual. That was a ballsy call from Gavin Cromwell, especially as the race takes place on the Old Course, which is a real test of speed. James Bowen took the ride and the horse ran in the colours of his new owner for the first time. However, I’m not sure he got the ride correct in hindsight.
James Bowen dropped Ballysax Hank into the rear of the field. Despite being given a mountain to climb, he made headway before two out, and it looked like he could play a part at the finish. He was still making up ground at the last when Western Diego fell and hampered him badly.
Ballysax Hank had every right to down tools at that stage and it would have stopped most horses in their tracks. However, he picked straight back up and rallied again, which really impressed me. He ended up running into sixth place, just a neck away from making the top five. I’m sure they wish he had been ridden a bit closer to the pace. Without the sheer amount of ground he needed to make up, and interference after the last, he would have gone very close!
Ballysax Hank will absolutely relish the current ground conditions
The official going on Day 2 here at Punchestown was Yielding, which for the British readers here translates as Good to Soft. Judging the track on the early race times, I’d say that assessment was fair. However, by the time we reached the later races, including the Punchestown Gold Cup, the ground seemed to be riding much faster. The time of that race was just 4.3 seconds slow but Gaelic Warrior was only just nudged out at the finish, never coming off the bridle. If Paul Townend had asked for everything, it could have been a good deal faster.
I’d say it was riding like genuine Good ground at that point, and they are likely to have watered overnight. There is also the chance of some rain today. Yesterday evening the report suggested 17mm starting around 14:00 and being at its heaviest around 16:00-17:00. However, that has since changed to 6.5mm of rain starting at 16:00. Ultimately, the less rain and watering the better for Ballysax Hank as he lprefers Good going.
All four of his wins were on Good, or Good to Yielding, ground. Arguably, his career best run was in the Grade 1 American Grand National Hurdle Stakes, where he finished second, and that was run on Firm ground over at Far Hills (USA). Personally, I hope the watering just maintains the ground and any rain comes after his race at 16:50.
Ballysax Hank could be a Graded horse lurking in a Handicap
Going back to his US race, Ballysax Hank was only denied by a head, with the race won by Zanahiyr, who only got the better of him in the final strides. Now that was an American Grade 1 rather than a British or Irish Grade 1, so it wasn't as strong, but Zanahiyr is a two-time Grade 2 winner, and a Grade 3 winner in Ireland. He has also finished runner up in four Grade 1s and came third in a further two, including the Champion Hurdle, so he has plenty of class. Similarly Fil Dor was behind them both that day, and he is a Listed, Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner, who has also placed in Grade 1 company.
Ballysax Hank looked a very useful horse when he won the Summer Plate Handicap Chase, he potetially surpassed that with his second over in the United States, and with a more prominent ride in the Grand Annual, he could have done better there. He is only seven years old, and has just seven starts to his name over fences, so it's highly likely that the best is still to come. In fact, he could well be a Graded horse lurking in Handicap company here. Whilst he won't be winning Grade 1s anytime soon, it wouldn’t surprise me if Ballysax Hank starts winning races at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level.
Ballysax Hank only carried 10st 12lb in the Grand Annual, and he has a stone more to carry this time. That said, he faced rivals rated as highly as 155 in the Grand Annual, but in this race he is the highest rated horse at a mark of 138, and some of his rivals are rated as low as the 110. If he progresses as expected, he will give them all weight and a beating here!
Can Ballysax Hank get Gavin Cromwell on the board at Punchestown?
Gavin Cromwell is yet to produce a winner at the Punchestown Festival. He had Begorra Man finish second, Boycetown and Coole Cafe finish third, but a winner has eluded him. He has Vanillier in the La Touce Cup Cross Country Chase at 15:40, and The Lovely Man and Bridie’s Beau in the Listed Handicap Hurdle at 16:15. He may already be on the board by the time Ballysax Hank runs, but if not, this horse could be the one to put hime there.
I think there are plenty of reasons Ballysax Hank can win this. He was eye-catching at Cheltenham and would have finished much closer given better circumstances. He should also enjoy the conditions, if they are anything like the opening two days of the meeting. At the age of seven with just seven runs over fences, there could also be plenty of improvement to come.
In terms of negatives, I don’t have a great deal. He is potentially better over further, but he showed that he has pace at Cheltenham and his stamina is a bonus. The only other potential concern is the weather, but as we have no control over that, we'll just have to hope the rain stays off until after his race. Overall, I think Ballysax Hank has a fantastic chance, and at 10/1 with five places on offer, I think he’s a superb each way bet, and I'm going for a strong 1pt each way stake.
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