7.25 3m. 1f. 14 Declared. AXA Midlands National H'cap S'chase of €75,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €45,000.00 2nd - €15,000.00 3rd - €7,500.00 4th - €3,750.00 5th - €2,250.00 6th - €1,500.00
FormscanBy Mark Nunan - Some things don’t change even in the ‘new normal’ and Gigginstown and JP McManus are multiply represented in this valuable handicap chase, as well as trainers Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead. From a smaller yard FREEWHEELIN DYLAN might trump them all, though. Dermot McLoughlin’s 8-y-o goes well at this track and this will have been a target for connections for some time. He was last in action at Christmas so the lay-off is a concern, but he landed a nice prize at Punchestown on his penultimate start. Topweight Cap York won the Leinster National at Naas in March and may fare best of the Gigginstown quartet, while Tesseract was touched off in this last year and, off just a pound higher mark, is of interest on his first start for Aidan Howard. Three Musketeers has come down to a nice mark over fences and, with Davy Russell on board, he could be the best of Gordon Elliott’s five runners.
An extended handicap steeplechase for five years old and upwards Weights - Top weight in the original handicap and after the time of declaration shall not be less than 11st 12lbs and the minimum weight is 9st 12lbs Penalties - Handicapper.