1.00 2m. 7 Declared. Joe Mac Novice H'dle (Grade 3) of €27,500.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €16,500.00 2nd - €5,500.00 3rd - €2,750.00 4th - €1,375.00 5th - €825.00 6th - €550.00
FormscanBy Gary Carson - ARCTIC WARRIOR looks very talented and can prove a class act stepping up into graded company here. The German-bred gelding looked an unlucky loser on his first outing for Willie Mullins at Down Royal back in February when travelling best down to the second last flight only to get it all wrong and crash out. The horse that won that day Decimation went on to finish runner-up in Grade 2 company subsequently. It proved plain sailing for Arctic Warrior on his return at Sligo in early August and this will give us a better idea of how good he is. Stable-mate Purple Mountain was a Listed bumper winner and got off the mark on her jumping debut at Galway. She was perhaps a touch fortunate at Ballybrit with Gamin Original unshipping at the last and this is a much tougher test now. Annie G, impressive winner of a Listed hurdle at Galway, could be the bigger danger. She beat a couple of decent rivals in fine style last time and could be capable of a bit better than her mark of 127.
A novice hurdle for four years old and upwardsWeights - 4-y-o 11st 2lbs 5-y-o and up 11st 3lbs Mares allowed 7lbsPenalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of two hurdle races 4lb extra Of three hurdle races or of a Grade 3 hurdle race 7lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or of a Grade 2 hurdle race 9lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 11lb extra