1st - €7,978.50 2nd - €2,700.00 3rd - €1,350.00 4th - €675.00 5th - €405.00 6th - €270.00 Fine

FormscanBy Tom Weekes - Four year old TAKARENGO ran with plenty promise when third on hurdles debut at Leopardstown over Christmas and can get off the mark over jumps here. He was a thoroughly progressive flat performer last year, winning two late-season races on testing ground and made the transition to hurdling at Leopardstown where he ran a fine race in defeat. He is very well suited by testing ground and should benefit from that hurdles debut run. The Little Yank was ambitiously tried in Grade 2 company on hurdles debut at Limerick over Christmas and while he wasn't involved at the business end, wasn't beaten too far and himself should benefit form the run. He won his winners' bumper here in November and has solid claims today, with his rider today able to claim his full 7lbs allowance. Belfast Banter was a bumper winner on fast ground for Dan Skelton in Newton Abbot last July and ran a solid race when finishing second, on soft ground, at Navan last month. He inherited second place then as the leader fell but it was a useful hurdles debut run and has too has claims, although he might possibly struggle to win. Capilano Bridge finished a controversial second (he badly hampered the winner late-on but somehow avoided a dangerous riding disqualification) in an unplaced horses maiden at Naas last month but the form of that race looks ordinary and he may struggle to win this. Baba Boom was very capable of the flat but looks best watched on his second hurdles outing.

A hurdle for four and five years old only, maidens at starting
Weights - 4-y-o 10st 10lbs ;5-y-o 11st 10lbs ;Mares allowed 7lbs ;