14:28 Down Royal

Tuesday 17 March 2026

All13:1813:5314:2815:0315:3816:1316:4817:22

Bluegrass Respire Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 1)

4YO plus | 2m 4f 86y | 22 Runners | Turf

Rockstown Girl^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: James Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: A McCann| OR: 100

22/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2024. Seventh of 11 in handicap hurdle at this course (17.2f, heavy, 15/2) 56 days ago.

Form: 40PPB7

Saunton Surf⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 100

33/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2023. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Naas 67 days ago.

Form: 5F54-9P

Aswellasabentley⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 98

7/2

Creditable third of 16 in handicap hurdle (15/2) at this course (17.2f, heavy) 56 days ago, clear of rest. Yard in good form. Can go well again.

Form: P4-40P3

Monroes Hollow^p⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Conor Stone-Walsh| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 98

22/1

18/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, good eighth of 20 in handicap hurdle at this course (17.2f, soft) 81 days ago. Needs more from this mark.

Form: 47F-008

Ballyedward^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 97

22/1

15/2, third of 4 in handicap chase at Ayr on debut over fences 35 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 0-36803

Jaynemax¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Thomas Dowling| OR: 96

5/1

9/1, very good second of 18 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown 15 days ago. Enters calculations.

Form: 0-09452

Jumble Light⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: M M McNiff| OR: 95

8/1

Good fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (heavy, 5/1) 64 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 48-5744

Political Stance¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Philip Byrnes| T: C Byrnes| OR: 93

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Respectable 20 lengths second of 8 in handicap hurdle (18/1) at Clonmel (heavy) 19 days ago, not knocked about. Back up in trip. Likely has bigger performances in him soon. All the more interesting if backed.

Form: 9072

Cozone^t³⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: R Deegan| T: M J Smith| OR: 90| D

12/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2024. Eighth of 20 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Gowran when last seen. Off 12 months. Up in trip.

Form: 000908-

Hello Johnjoe⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mike O'Connor| T: A McNamara| OR: 89

18/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Thurles 40 days ago but was placed at Clonmel over this trip prior to that.

Form: 00553P

Las Brisas Boy³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kieren Buckley| T: E Buckley| OR: 88

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Below form fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Limerick 35 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 0-0004

Annilogs Flame⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Brian Barry⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dunne| OR: 87

28/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Eleventh of 15 in novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (250/1) 42 days ago. Up in trip. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 46-800

Bruno From Mars^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel King| T: Conor Maxwell| OR: 84

14/1

Eleventh of 16 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Punchestown 27 days ago. More needed.

Form: PP-F430

Coppola⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 80

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden. Well held in 2 handicap hurdles for Colin McBratney around the turn of the year but could prove a totally different proposition having joined Gordon Elliott. Market support significant.

Form: 5P-P208

Sunwalk⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Slevin| T: S Neville| OR: 79

15/2

66/1, second of 20 in handicap hurdle at this course (17.2f, soft) 81 days ago. Must back that up.

Form: 0/59P0-2

Party Pack^t¹²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Jordan Canavan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Flavin| OR: 78

18/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Navan (16/1) 121 days ago. Back up in trip. Needs to recapture the form he showed when second at Wexford last summer but return to these less testing conditions will suit.

Form: PP427P

Mister Persistence^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Mark McDonagh| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 77

40/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, fifth of 6 in novice hurdle at Leopardstown (300/1) 15 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 00PFP5

The Son Of Brega²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Alix Balfe⁽⁷⁾| T: P Downey| OR: 74

12/1

Pulled up in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Punchestown (heavy) 27 days ago, losing touch 3 out.

Form: 000P/0P

Blossom De Mai^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 73

40/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. Pulled up in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Thurles (heavy) 40 days ago, pulled up before 2 out.

Form: F385PP

Rajjnatin^t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 72

10/1

Below form when seventh of 15 in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Gowran 54 days ago. Back up in trip. First run for yard after leaving Miss Evanna McCutcheon.

Form: U06887

Somersby Roost^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Reserve 1| T: O McKiernan| OR: 99

9/2

Lightly-raced maiden. Fourth of 6 in novice hurdle (40/1) at Leopardstown 15 days ago, considerately handled. Back up in trip. Likely improver in handicaps. Player if getting a run. RESERVE.

Form: 61-5674

Stardhem^h1⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Reserve 2| T: Edward F Power| OR: 83| BF| D

10/1

Dual chaser winner for Ben Pauling last season but has struggled this time round. Switches from chase to hurdles for first run for new yard. Hood on 1st time. RESERVE.

Form: 11P-P6P

Forecasts

Aswellasabentley (4/1), Jaynemax (9/2), Sunwalk (13/2), Political Stance (7/1), Jumble Light (15/2), Stardhem (8/1), Coppola (10/1), Ballyedward (12/1), Hello Johnjoe (14/1), Bruno From Mars (16/1), Monroes Hollow (16/1), Somersby Roost (16/1), Las Brisas Boy (16/1), Party Pack (20/1), Rockstown Girl (25/1), Cozone (25/1), Blossom De Mai (33/1), The Son Of Brega (33/1), Annilogs Flame (33/1), Saunton Surf (33/1), Rajjnatin (33/1), Mister Persistence (50/1)

ASWELLASABENTLEY looked a bit unlucky not to go even closer when third here last time and gets the vote for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. A market move for Gordon Elliott's new recruit Coppola would make him a potential threat. Jaynemax is respected on the back of her recent Leopardstown second, while Oliver McKiernan's Somersby Roost would also need considering if getting a run.