1st - €25,075.00 2nd - €8,500.00 3rd - €4,250.00 4th - €2,125.00 5th - €1,275.00 6th - €850.00 Overcast

FormscanBy Alan Magee - Not the strongest Grade 3 to be run all season, and GENERAL PRINCIPLE looks the one to beat. The Kirkistown point-to-point winner was switched to fences this term and after a number of promising efforts in beginners’ events had little more than an exercise canter in scoring at Gowran Park last time. The race fell apart when main rival Dicosimo fell before halfway, and his only two remaining rivals were later called in before the stewards. Gigginstown hold a strong hand as they are also represented by All Hell Let Loose, who jumped well to open his account over fences at Kilbeggan last summer and was then off the track until reappearing at Cheltenham. That latest run in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase is best forgotten as he was pulled up soon after a bad mistake at halfway. Twiss’s Hill won twice here over hurdles off lowly marks on testing ground, and was a clear leader when falling at the last in a mares’ novice chase at Thurles last month leaving Carrigeen Acebo to be a fortunate winner.

A novice steeplechase for five yrs old and upwards
Weights - 5-y-o 10st 8lb; 6-y-o and up 11st; Mares allowed 7lb
Penalties - (handicaps excluded) Winner of two steeplechases 3lb extra; Of three steeplechases or a Grade 3 steeplechase 6lb extra; Of two Grade 3 steeplechases or a Grade 2 steeplechase 8lb extra; Of a Grade 1 steeplechase 10lb extra;