1st - €8,700.00 2nd - €2,900.00 3rd - €1,450.00 4th - €725.00 5th - €435.00 6th - €290.00

FormscanBy Donal Murphy - With cheekpieces redeployed, SMALL TOWN HERO might be able to bounce back from a disappointing effort at the Dublin Racing Festival. In first time blinkers, the Ian Donoghue-trained six-year-old ultimately pulled up at the Foxrock venue, but had been a model of consistency prior to that, winning five times in the period from July to December. Better known for his exploits over fences, Ontheropes is the second choice. On what was just his third start over the smaller obstacles, the Tom Mullins-trained 12-year-old ran a huge race to finish second to The Lovely Man at Gowran on Thyestes day, and had the reopposing Well Del and Portnacoo behind. The former was sent off favourite on that occasion and it'll be interesting to see how he fares now starting off for David Walsh.

An extended handicap hurdle for four years old and upwards (120 = 11st 12lbs)
Penalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap shall carry 7lb extra for each hurdle race won.