March 17 / 16.47 Down Royal

16.47

Good

Bluegrass Mare Prepare Hunters Chase

  • Prize money: £4876.03
  • 2m 3f 140y
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Bluegrass Mare Prepare Hunters Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three time point-to-point winner; won a hunters chase at Clonmel (2m4f, yielding to soft) for Paul Flynn; closely matched with Ballyphilip on a line through Carnfunnock; leading chance on first start for Adrian Murray.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:12 Kilbeggan

Milan Forth

10st 8lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Simon Cavanagh

Won off 6lb lower at Cork in January (2m4f, yld-sft); excellent effort off 3lb lower over C&D on latest when a 0.5l second behind Littlefoot; this race is deeper so more needed to win but place claims again at the very least.

8/1

2nd

7

15th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 90y

19:40 Kilbeggan

Milan Forth

11st 5lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Simon Cavanagh

Three-time winner under rules, two hunter chases and a handicap chase at Cork off 116 in January; beaten favourite at Gowran Park in March, seemingly unsuited by testing conditions; ran well when beaten 9l over hurdles at Punchestown 16 days ago; definite chance back over fences with ground to suit.

11/2

5th

7

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

15:40 Punchestown

Milan Forth

11st 6lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Simon Cavanagh

Former hunter chase winner; gained 2m4f handicap chase win at Cork in January but well held twice since in competitive 2m handicaps; belated hurdles debut here and likely tough enough task.

25/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 36

Last run: 81 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
2-10 in point-to-points; both wins came on easy ground but he has run well on good; finished 4.75l behind Ballyphilip in a hunters chase here in May last year; place claims in first-time hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 184y

15:55 Thurles

Bold Fury

11st 7lb

J: Mr T C Kileff

T: W R Crawford

2-10 in point-to-points; finished in front of a below-par Big Interest when second at Down Royal last March; good effort when second in a maiden hurdle at Roscommon last summer; fifth in both outings in this sphere this term, not far off Willitgoahead at Down Royal.

12/1

2

5th Aug 2025

Yielding

1m 7f 110y

17:45 Roscommon

Bold Fury

11st 4lb

J: Mr T C Kileff

T: S R B Crawford

Dual point winner and has been competitive in hunter chases the last twice, posting useful RPRs; making hurdling debut over a trip that could be too sharp but needs respecting.

13/2

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 14P C BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point-to-point winner; won a 3m hunters chase on his Rules' debut here in December on nice ground; not as good on soft the last twice but the return to this venue and good ground offer hope of a revival; lost a shoe in the Tetratema at Gowran nine days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 150y

16:42 Listowel

Big Interest

12st 0lb

J: Mr D Doyle

T: D M Christie

Looked a smart prospect when beating Its On The Line at Down Royal in December 2024; disappointing overall since then, except for an 18l Fairyhouse win last year; 66-1 at Punchestown festival, still prominent when exiting a mile out; well held in a point a week later.

16/1

3

1st May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Big Interest

12st 0lb

J: Mr D G Lavery

T: D M Christie

Looked a smart prospect when beating Its On The Line at Down Royal in December 2024; disappointing overall since then, except for an 18l Fairyhouse win last season; remote third in the same race this year; poor completion rate this season; risky.

33/1

3rd

2

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 180y

17:30 Fairyhouse

Big Interest

12st 0lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: D M Christie

Looked capable of becoming a major force in this category when beating top hunter chaser Its On The Line at Down Royal's Christmas fixture in 2024; disappointing overall since then, except for an 18l win in this race last April; pulled up in two of his three hunter chase outings this ter and unseated rider on only point appearance; risky.

12/1

Form: 42F-40

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1-5 in point-to-points, that win coming in February 2023; went close in a 2m5f hunters chase at Clonmel in January 2024 on heavy; best form has come on testing ground so good ground is a concern; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

15:35 Cork

Dromleigh

12st 0lb

J: Mr D Doyle

T: Seamus Murnane

Has won his three starts in points since pulled up in a hunter chase at Clonmel in January; made the favourite Hearts And Spades work hard for his Dromahane win, and may again give his younger rival most to do.

4/1

7th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Dromleigh

11st 7lb

J: Miss L Costello

T: Seamus Murnane

midfield, mistake 5th

12/1

7th

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Dromleigh

11st 7lb

J: Miss L Costello

T: Seamus Murnane

midfield, mistake 5th

12/1

Form: 0-1F C

Last run: 125 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
5-13 in point-to-points; won a hunters chase at this venue over 2m7f (good) last May; got to within 2l of Carnfunnock at Kirkistown last month and he ran well in the St James's Place at Cheltenham on Friday; this trip may be a shade sharp but he has leading form claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 86y

16:48 Down Royal

Ballyphilip

12st 0lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

Six wins from 18 starts in a points, placed five times, including on the first of two starts this season; had useful form, linked to prolific winner Winged Leader last season; course winner over 2m7f in 2024; first track start since fifth in this race a year ago.

7/1

5th

1

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 140y

16:47 Down Royal

Ballyphilip

12st 0lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

raced wide, in touch with leaders

7/2

2

12th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 74y

14:52 Fairyhouse

Ballyphilip

11st 9lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

raced wide, jumped left on occasions, pressed leader, briefly disputed lead after 2nd, mistake 7th, led narrowly going okay before 2 out, ridden and headed when fell heavily last

7/4

Form: P80

Last run: 219 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1-8 in point-to-points for Peter Croke, the win coming on his last start at Boulta (3m, yielding); has since joined Patrick Griffin; others have stronger form claims and he is probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Ayr

Go Frankie

10st 12lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: Patrick Griffin

Won a point-to-point in November 2024 on eighth start in that sphere; he's achieved very little under rules but has travelled from Ireland to make his handicap debut, for which cheekpieces are applied; watch the betting.

20/1

9th

4

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

13:50 Fairyhouse

Go Frankie

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Patrick Griffin

Boulta point-to-point win (yielding) came at eighth attempt; no show in Down Royal hunters chase when last seen in March; best watched on reverting to hurdles.

66/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Promise in a pair of point-to-points at Cragmore and Lisronagh; from a good family, in good hands, top rider booked and his pedigree suggests that he could improve plenty for this better ground; interesting Rules' debutant.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

8th May 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 110y

19:15 Tipperary

Beg To Differ

11st 9lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: E Bolger

Promise in a pair of point-to-points at Cragmore and Lisronagh; rules debut at Down Royal was too bad to be true, but not surprising that Derek O'Connor rides Keep On Dreaming instead.

10/1

5th

1

8th May 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 110y

19:15 Tipperary

Beg To Differ

11st 9lb

J: Mr J M Halford

T: E Bolger

Promise in a pair of point-to-points at Cragmore and Lisronagh; rules debut at Down Royal was too bad to be true, but not surprising that Derek O'Connor rides Keep On Dreaming instead.

10/1

7th

4

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 140y

16:47 Down Royal

Beg To Differ

11st 7lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: E Bolger

held up in rear, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, lost touch before 3 out

6/1

Form: 2P

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark at the seventh attempt in point-to-points on good to yielding ground at Kirkistown last month; was 2.25l behind Ballyphilip in a 2m7f hunters chase on good ground here last May; this trip may be on the sharp side for him but he should be staying on at the finish.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 140y

16:47 Down Royal

Drumnasoo

11st 7lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: R J Tumilty

in touch with leaders

7/1

5

29th Dec 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 6f 120y

12:00 Limerick

Drumnasoo

12st 0lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: R J Tumilty

0-6 in points but finished runner-up to one on a roll in a 2m7f maiden hunter chase at Down Royal (good; fine on softer); that form brings him right into this.

7/1

5

29th Dec 2024

Yielding To Soft

2m 6f 120y

12:00 Limerick

Drumnasoo

12st 0lb

J: Mr N McParlan

T: R J Tumilty

0-6 in points but finished runner-up to one on a roll in a 2m7f maiden hunter chase at Down Royal (good; fine on softer); that form brings him right into this.

7/1

Non-runners

Long Road

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €13.50
Straight Forecast €16.18
Trifecta €56.60

Selections

POSTDATA:

Milan Forth

SPOTLIGHT:

Beg To Differ

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Big Interest

The Irish Sun:

Milan Forth