Birdie Or Bust

Her record on wet or muddy ground is where the numbers really jump out. On soft ground, she has won 2 from 4 races — that is a 50% win rate, which is extraordinary. Half the time she races in those conditions, she wins. It suggests she does not just cope with the mud; she thrives in it. Henry De Bromhead, who trains her at his yard in Knockeen, Co Waterford, has noted she prefers faster ground, which makes that soft-ground record all the more striking — she appears to relish conditions that others find uncomfortable.

De Bromhead is one of Ireland's most respected trainers, and his yard has sent out 107 winners this season alone, so Birdie Or Bust is operating in well-organised hands. Rachael Blackmore, one of the finest jockeys in the sport, has partnered her for 7 of her 18 races and won on 2 of them — a win rate of roughly 1 in 3.5 — and after her first career win at Tipperary back in May 2023, Blackmore was effusive, saying she did it really well and did not even have to dig into her reserves. That is the kind of comment that suggests there might be more to come from a horse.

Her most recent win came at Listowel in September 2025, and though that was seven months ago, her last six runs tell a story of a horse finding her way back to form rather than fading. A poor run at Down Royal was followed by a much-improved performance at Thurles, where De Bromhead admitted they got a bit of luck but was genuinely pleased to see her jumping and travelling like herself again. After a productive summer, the team have been weighing up whether to give her a break or try her at a race in the weeks ahead. For a horse with this much experience and a trainer this switched-on, the smart money would be on her having at least one more chapter to write.