1st - €21,900.00 2nd - €7,300.00 3rd - €3,650.00 4th - €1,825.00 5th - €1,095.00 6th - €730.00

FormscanBy Mark Nunan - MONBEG PARK needs to improve on what he has shown so far over fences but a good course record over hurdles is a point in his favour and he should be suited by stepping back up in trip. He didn't land a blow in two beginners' contests won by smart sorts but there was a fair amount of merit in those runs and he proved too strong for Spillane's Tower on his final outing of last season in a novice hurdle at the festival here in April. Blood Destiny was the highest rated of these over hurdles and impressed on chase debut at Naas where he made all to beat a useful sort over this trip. His weight-for-age allowance was 8lb on that occasion but is half that amount here. Imagine and Silent Approach both shoulder hefty penalties for Grade 2 victories. The latter will need to improve again having won in mares-only company at Cork while Imagine steps up in trip after a course victory in November but all four of his career victories have been over the minimum distance so a slight query remains over his stamina.

A novice steeplechase for five years old and upwards
Weights - 5-y-o 10st 12lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 2lbs Mares allowed 7lbs
Penalties - 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 12lb extra