5.15 2m. 16 Declared. Fairyhouse Merchandise (M) H'cap H'dle of €11,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €6,600.00 2nd - €2,200.00 3rd - €1,100.00 4th - €550.00 5th - €330.00 6th - €220.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - NODOUBTABOUTTHAT can win this open looking handicap. Well beaten in her initial hurdle starts, she showed vast improvement when landing a gamble at Kilbeggan last September and subsequently wasn't beaten too far in two soft-ground handicaps. She reappears today on suitably good ground and having started her career from a low rating, is open to more improvement. Rock Chica has shown bits of useful hurdles form and while well beaten by Zoffanien at Naas in February, that winner was unlucky not to follow-up recently at Cork, and Rock Chica is open to improvement being a 4yo. Capture The Drawa is ground-versatile, is fit and well, and while she competes from a career high mark having won at Wexford last month, has an obvious chance. Strange Notions ran well on her latest hurdles start at Naas but subsequently disappointed on the flat, when reported to be post-race normal. Trees Valley lacks a recent run but represents a yard in flying form and will appreciate today's good ground while Paula's Prayer similarly likes good ground and has her first run for 92 days. Amor Verdadero is proven at this grade and cannot be dismissed in first-time cheek-pieces with her rider claiming a helpful 7lbs.
An extended handicap hurdle for four years old and upwards mares only rated 80-116Weights - Top weight in the original handicap and after the time of declaration shall not be less than 12st and the minimum weight shall not be less than 9st 12lbsPenalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap shall carry 5lb extra for each hurdle race won.