1st - €8,100.00 2nd - €2,700.00 3rd - €1,350.00 4th - €675.00 5th - €405.00 6th - €270.00 Overcast

Formscan By Gary Carson - FERNS LOCK looks like a real rising star in this division and gets the vote. His defeat of Billaway at Thurles in January was an impressive performance and while last season's champion may not have been fully wound up it was still a really good effort to beat him by a wide margin. Aloneamongmillions has won this race twice and looks an obvious danger. He has been runner-up in three 'Opens' this season already so comes into the race in decent form. Grange Island ran a cracker when finishing a close third to Billaway at Naas last month and has to be another leading contender. He had previously won a hunters chase at Clonmel in January and is still a relatively unexposed horse.

A steeplechase for ] Certified Hunters five years old and upwards that have between 5th October, 2019 and 6th March, 2023 been placed either first, second, third or fourth in a Point-to-Point Steeplechase in Ireland or Great Britain or in a Certified Hunters Steeplechase in Ireland or Great Britain and that have not won a race under any N.H. Rules or Rules of Racing since 1st March, 2022 other than a Certified Hunters Steeplechase or a Farmers Race
Weights - 5-y-o 11st 10lbs 6-y-o and up 12st Mares allowed 7lbs
Riders - Qualified Riders under I.N.H.S. Rules. a? A Hunters Certificate valid in accordance with Rule 78 for the 2022/2023 season for each horse engaged must be registered at the Office of the I.N.H.S. Committee, The Curragh, Co. Kildare not later than 6th March, 2023 or the horse will not be qualified to start. In the case of horses from Great Britain, Hunters (Master of Hounds) Certificates must have been duly registered at the Racing Calendar Office, Wellingborough. The Stewards of the I.N.H.S. Committee have modified the Rules to permit horses for which Master of Hounds Certificates have been registered with the Jockey Club and which are eligible to run in Hunters Steeplechases in Great Britain to run in this race. However, horses with a Master of Hounds Certificate that have run in any race other than a Hunters' Steeplechase since 1st November, 2022 are excluded. The Cup to be held by the owner of the winner who must give a guarantee (in writing) for the safe keeping and return of the Cup to the Secretary on or before 28th February, 2024