16:47 Down Royal

Monday 17 March 2025

All13:5214:2715:0215:3716:1216:4717:22

Bluegrass Mare Prepare Hunters Chase

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 4m 52.00s

Ballyphilip²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan| T: Caroline Mccaldin| C

7/1

Successful in a maiden hunter here last May. Still bang there when coming down at the final fence on latest start under Rules in a hunter at Fairyhouse (24.3f, good, 3/1) in November. Placed both starts between the flags since. Possibilities.

Form: 1-11F23

Big Interest^t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| BF| C

11/4

Thrice-raced winner in chases. Pulled up in hunter chase at Gowran (25f, heavy, 5/2) 9 days ago, pushed along approaching straight. No surprise should he bounce back now down in trip on better ground.

Form: 41-14P

Milan Forth^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Kevin Healy⁽⁷⁾| T: A Murray| D

9/4

Tongue strap on, won 14-runner hunter chase (9/2) at Clonmel (20f, soft) on NH debut 61 days ago, kept up to work. Third in an open point since and open to improvement back under Rules for new yard.

Form: 211213

Beg To Differ²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Bolger

5/1

£20,000 3-y-o, Mahler gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful chaser At The Acorn. Made the frame both starts in points and he's one to consider on Rules debut for greatly respected connections.

Form: 24

Bold Fury^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T C Kileff⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford

11/2

Twice-raced maiden. 25/1, 17¾ lengths sixth of 12 to Big Interest in hunter chase at this course (24f, good to soft) 81 days ago. Successful in a point last month and he's an each-way player.

Form: 2F-3621

Dromleigh⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss L Costello⁽⁷⁾| T: Seamus Murnane| OR: 109

28/1

Fair chaser. Twelfth of 16 in hunter chase (16/1) at Limerick (22.6f, soft) 78 days ago. Only seventh in a point 9 days ago and others make more appeal.

Form: F-45027

Drumnasoo²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: R J Tumilty

15/2

Twice-raced maiden. First run since leaving Stuart Crawford when 12/1, pulled up in hunter chase at Limerick (22.6f, soft) 78 days ago. Beaten a fair way when third to Bold Fury in a point last month.

Form: P3-2P13

Go Frankie¹¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr F Maguire| T: P Griffin

66/1

Twelfth of 14 in novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (19f, good to soft, 125/1) on latest start under Rules. Winner of a maiden point when last seen in November but overall record in that sphere is modest. Debut for new yard.

Form: 802F41

Non-Runners

Long Road²³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: P J Rothwell J: Mr B J Walsh

Forecasts

Milan Forth (9/4), Big Interest (11/4), Beg To Differ (5/1), Bold Fury (11/2), Ballyphilip (7/1), Drumnasoo (15/2), Long Road (25/1), Dromleigh (28/1), Go Frankie (66/1)

BIG INTEREST looked one to follow when making a wining Rules debut here on Boxing Day and that remains the case, despite his two subsequent defeats on soft/heavy going. He is taken to get back on track with the forecast quicker ground and drop in trip both likely plus points. Having shaped well both starts between the flags, Beg To Differ is interesting on his Rules debut and, given his connections, it will look significant if he's strong in thebetting. Milan Forth is also shortlisted.