3.20 2m. 18 Declared. Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed Hcap Hdle of €14,500.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €8,700.00 2nd - €2,900.00 3rd - €1,450.00 4th - €725.00 5th - €435.00 6th - €290.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - PIKE COUNTY looks well handicapped and can win. He showed potential in his bumper days and caught the eye on occasions over hurdles subsequently, with the form of his 19.5L third placing to Battleoverdoyen in December 2018 working out well subsequently and from which it appears he is better than his 116 rating. He has presumably had training issues with absences along the way but he has returned to form on the flat in recent months and looks the type to comfortably win from his mark. His owner JP McManus runs five other horses in the race but all make their reappearances although Spruced Up raced up until lockdown and has proven form in good handicaps but might not be ahead of the handicapper. Mig Des Taillons has been in excellent form but now competes from a career high mark while Elite Trooper Grey was useful on the flat and was an easy-to-back winner on handicap hurdle debut at Cork last month but isn't ideally suited to testing ground. Melly And Me returned from a 645 days absence when second at Galway latest and should get involved today being proven in handicaps and is seemingly trip-versatile. Bythesametoken has been in excellent form but faces a tougher test today than when winning at Tipperary while Callthebarman makes his debut for Matthew Smith and needs to recapture his best form. Pottlerath has been running well in lesser handicaps and has place claims under a light weight.
An extended handicap hurdle for four years old and upwards (123 = 11st 10lbs)Weights - Top weight in the original handicap and after the time of declaration shall not be less than 11st 10lbs and the minimum weight is 9st 12lbsPenalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap shall carry 5lb extra for each hurdle race won.