2.45 3m. 1f. 40yds. 5 Declared. Low.ie Hunters S'chase of €17,500.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €10,500.00 2nd - €3,500.00 3rd - €1,750.00 4th - €875.00 5th - €525.00
FormscanBy Alan Magee - FERNS LOCK is an exciting sort and can stretch his unbeaten record to seven in point-to-points and hunter chases. The David Christie-trained gelding decisively beat Its On The Line (second at Cheltenham last month) here earlier this season, with Er Dancer back in third, and was equally impressive when slamming Billaway at Thurles. He coped with testing ground when long odds-on last time in the Tetratema Cup at Gowran where Annamix was well held when falling at the last. Billaway’s eight wins under rules include the Cheltenham Festival last year and hopefully he's none the worse of a fall when bidding for a repeat last month. Er Dancer gained his sixth point-to-point win when beating Vis Ta Loi at Oldtown in February.
A steeplechase for ] Certified Hunters five years old and upwards that have between 5th October, 2019 and 3rd April, 2023 been placed either first, second, third or fourth in a Point-to-Point Steeplechase or in a Certified Hunters Steeplechase in Ireland or Great Britain and that have not won a race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing after 1st March, 2022 other than a Certified Hunters Steeplechase or a Farmers RaceWeights - 5-y-o 11st 12lbs 6-y-o and up 12st Mares allowed 7lbsRiders - Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules. a? A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2022/2023 season for each horse engaged must be registered at the Offices of the I.N.H.S. Committee, The Curragh, Co. Kildare not later than 3rd April, 2023 or the horse will not be qualified to start. In the case of horses from Great Britain, Hunters (Master of Hounds) Certificates must have been duly registered at the Racing Calendar Office, Wellingborough. The Stewards of the I.N.H.S. Committee have modified the Rules to permit horses for which Master of Hounds Certificates have been registered with the Jockey Club and which are eligible to run in Hunters Steeplechases in Great Britain to run in this race. However, horses with a Master of Hounds Certificate that have run in any race other than a Hunters' Steeplechase since 1st November, 2022 are excluded. The Cup to be run for each year and to be held by the winner for one year but must be returned to the Secretary on or before 1st March, 2024.