3.30 2m. 7f. 20yds. 9 Declared. Pertemps Network Group H'cap H'dle of €22,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €13,200.00 2nd - €4,400.00 3rd - €2,200.00 4th - €1,100.00 5th - €660.00 6th - €440.00
FormscanBy Donal Murphy - In first time cheekpieces MELBOURNE SHAMROCK appeals off an initial mark of 121. Sold for 125,000 pounds after winning a point-to-point, the Hillstar seven-year-old has been running well of late, going down by just a head on his penultimate start. Carrying the Grand National and Gold Cup winning silks of Robert Waley-Cohen, the lightly raced bay notably holds a Pertemps Final entry and could take up that engagement on the back of a positive showing here. First and third at Punchestown on Wednesday, Well Del and Ontheropes are set for a quick turnaround, with the former sure to be well-fancied in his bid to follow-up. D Art D Art and Minella Sixo are others for the shortlist.
An extended handicap hurdle for five years old and upwardsPenalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap shall carry 7lb extra for each hurdle race won.