1st - €10,047.00 2nd - €3,400.00 3rd - €1,700.00 4th - €850.00 5th - €510.00 6th - €340.00 Fine

FormscanBy Mark Nunan - Joseph O’Brien’s Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle winner EARLY DOORS starts out over fences here and obviously has leading claims. He’d been third in the same race in 2018, and having had a light campaign, was nicely laid out for this year’s renewal and duly went two places better under young Jonjo O’Neill. He’s not really bred for this game (his three winning siblings are all winners on the Flat and didn’t even try jumping) so it’ll be interesting to see how he fares over fences. Dandy Mag was a smart juvenile hurdler, winning twice and beaten only half-a-length in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse behind Project Bluebook. He was last seen in June 2017, when a creditable third in the Grade One Prix Alain Du Breil Hurdle at Auteuil, in which his stablemate Bapaume was second. Willie Mullins has described him as “not the biggest horse in the world”, but with Vroum Vroum Mag (six from six over fences) as a half-sister, connections will be hopeful that he’ll do well at this game. Of those with chasing experience, Rathnure Rebel can be given a chance on his Gowran second to Irish National hero Burrows Saint, but was disappointing last time at Kilbeggan and probably wants softer ground.

A steeplechase for five years old and upwards that have not won a steeplechase
Weights - 11st 12lbs ;Mares allowed 7lbs ;