15:03 Down Royal

Tuesday 17 March 2026

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

Bluegrass Respire Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (Div 2)

  • 4YO plus  |   2m 4f 86y  |   Good to Yielding (Yielding in places)  |   18 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:03  |   Winning time: 5m 10.80s
1st
Horse silk
14
610-12
14/1
T: C ByrnesJ: Philip Byrnes
Held up early, mid-division halfway, progress 3 out, soon 2nd, travelled well to lead narrowly before 2 out, joined briefly 2 out but soon left in lead, soon ridden, mistake last, kept on well under pressure run-in op 8/1
2nd
Horse silk
¾
16
12/1
T: A A HowardJ: Simon Torrens
Tracked leaders early, soon mid-division, ridden in 6th after 3 out, closer in 3rd before 2 out where left 2nd and slight mistake, kept on run-in without reaching winner op 11/1 tchd 12/1
3rd
Horse silk
12
15
11/4f
T: P J RothwellJ: Shane O'Callaghan (5)
Mid-division, progress 3 out, ridden and closer after 3 out, under pressure in 4th before 2 out, left 3rd 2 out, soon drifted left and no impression, kept on one pace op 4/1
4th
Horse silk
1 ½
4
18/1
T: D A McLoughlinJ: Mr J P Sutton (7)
Mid-division and slight mistake 1st, soon towards rear, ridden into mid-division after 4 out, no impression in 9th before 2 out, kept on one pace from last tchd 16/1 and 20/1
5th
Horse silk
½
7
20/1
T: A McCannJ: Sean Flanagan
Mid-division, ridden into 6th before 2 out, left 4th 2 out, no extra before last, kept on one pace op 18/1 tchd 16/1
6th
Horse silk
1 ¾
12
20/1
T: E D DelanyJ: Harry Sexton (7)
Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden to challenge after 3 out, no extra in 5th before 2 out, kept on one pace op 22/1
7th
Horse silk
½
2
1011-13
40/1
T: Peter FaheyJ: Mr R M McParland (7)
Soon settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no impression after 3 out, kept on one pace op 28/1
8th
Horse silk
3 ½
5
18/1
T: Gary McGillJ: Mr D McGill (7)
Towards rear, ridden and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace from before last tchd 20/1
9th
Horse silk
7
18
8/1
T: J C McConnellJ: Carl Millar (5)
Rear of mid-division, progress into 4th entering straight, ridden to challenge after 3 out, no extra before next op 15/2
10th
Horse silk
2
21
16/1
T: Ian DonoghueJ: Conor Stone-Walsh
Tracked leaders, close up briefly 2nd, 3rd halfway, slight mistake 4 out, ridden and no extra before straight op 14/1
11th
Horse silk
6 ½
8
28/1
T: G P CromwellJ: Keith Donoghue
Towards rear, no impression 3 out, never a factor op 22/1
12th
Horse silk
20
11
11/1
T: P J RothwellJ: Josh Williamson (5)
Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened op 12/1 tchd 14/1
13th
Horse silk
4 ¾
9
13/2
T: G ElliottJ: Jack Kennedy
Tracked leaders, disputed briefly 2nd, close up at times, slight mistake and ridden 3 out, soon weakened op 15/2
14th
Horse silk
19
1
12/1
T: G P CromwellJ: Tom Buckley
Always towards rear, no extra 3 out, weakened op 11/1
15th
Horse silk
½
6
611-8
66/1
T: S McParlanJ: Mr N McParlan
Always towards rear, ridden and no extra entering straight, weakened op 33/1

Also Ran

F
Horse silk
3
28/1
T: P J F MurphyJ: J J Slevin
Led and disputed, slight mistakes 2nd and 4th, ridden and narrowly headed before 2 out, close up and disputing again when fell heavily 2 out tchd 25/1
PU
Horse silk
17
16/1
T: K ThorntonJ: Ben Harvey
Soon mid-division, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden and no extra, weakened entering straight, pulled up before 2 out op 18/1 tchd 14/1
PU
Horse silk
20
8/1
T: O McKiernanJ: Phillip Enright
Towards rear, no extra 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
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Non-Runners

19
Horse silk
Gerrymandering64
Weight: 10-6|  Age: 8
T: W J McLernon  J: Daniel King
NR
22
Horse silk
Dunany Point9
Weight: 11-6|  Age: 7
T: Conor Maxwell  J: Reserve 2
NR
13
Horse silk
Rebel Cowgirl27
Weight: 11-0|  Age: 7
T: M A Cahill  J: Cian Quirke
NR
10
Horse silk
Kanog Bay40
Weight: 11-4|  Age: 5
T: Ian Donoghue  J: Caragh Monaghan
NR

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£20.40Pl:£4.60, £4.20, £1.10, £4.60EX:£351.60Trifecta:£0.00Tricast:£619.58SF:£175.10

Forecasts

Pleasureofpressure (11/4), Rebel Cowgirl (4/1), Button Rock (13/2), Bella Union (8/1), Kanog Bay (8/1), Chemdawg (8/1), Little Boy Sivola (11/1), Dolly Watkins (12/1), Fool Me Once (12/1), Let Him B (14/1), Midleton Rare (16/1), Dunany Point (16/1), Shanroe Nancy (16/1), Joya Del Mar (18/1), Diaduit Buachaill (18/1), Under Cover (20/1), Written In My Soul (20/1), What's It To Ya (28/1), Rolly Bowley Boy (28/1), Gerrymandering (33/1), Tuckmill (40/1), Leitzel (66/1)

Verdict

There were clear signs that BUTTON ROCK is getting the hang of things when fifth at Clonmel on his latest start in December and, with improvement anticipated now back up in trip for this handicap debut, he gets the nod. Fool Me Once's latest effort was hardly inspiring but he is on a good mark judged on bits and pieces of form, while Rebel Cowgirl has to be taken seriously on the back of her breakthrough success at Punchestown. Pleasureofpressure also enters calculations.

  1. BUTTON ROCK (IRE)
  2. FOOL ME ONCE (IRE)
  3. REBEL COWGIRL (IRE)

Previous Winners

2025
Cher Tara
Weight: 10-13  |Age: 6
7/1

Prize Money

1st: €6,000.002nd: €2,000.003rd: €999.004th: €500.005th: €300.006th: €200.00

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