1st - €9,456.00 2nd - €3,200.00 3rd - €1,600.00 4th - €800.00 5th - €480.00 6th - €320.00 Overast

FormscanBy Mark Nunan - MINISTERFORSPORT has a good record fresh, and his third place finish at Naas just before Christmas last year stands out with two Cheltenham Festival winners no more than four lengths ahead of him. He didn’t back that up a month later at Gowran, but if anywhere near his best he’ll be hard to beat. After some initial jumping problems, he won three in a row in point-to-points and got to a fair level in a light campaign over hurdles. Minellafordollars might be his main rival, with his fourth to subsequent Irish Grand National winner Burrows Saint at Gowran in March looking like a strong form-line at first glance. The second and third haven’t done much for the form since, so maybe he was somewhat flattered, and he might be better for this outing following a lay-off. Eclat Des Mottes has to settle better, having been far too free when jumping poorly at Killarney, while Stoneford has experience but his mark suggests he has place prospects at best. Mount Hanover was second in his only point-to point, was a dual winner over hurdles and his trainer has said in the past that he anticipates that the Kayf Tara gelding will improve for the switch to chasing.

A steeplechase for four years old and upwards that have not won a steeplechase
Weights - 4-y-o 11st 1lbs ;5-y-o and up 11st 12lbs ;Mares allowed 7lbs ;