1st - €8,865.00 2nd - €3,000.00 3rd - €1,500.00 4th - €750.00 5th - €450.00 6th - €300.00 Overcast

FormscanBy Tom Weekes - ZOLA makes her jumps debut here and looks the one to beat despite the obvious disadvantage of lacking hurdling experience. She shaped like a staying type from her bumper debut for trainer Lorna Fowler at Ballinrobe in May, ran well subsequently for Willie Mullins in a 2m4f bumper and seemed to progress a little more when winning a 2m2f bumper at Sligo last month. Her form is reasonably strong (her Wexford conqueror subsequently won a maiden hurdle), she is open to more progression and this looks a suitable opportunity. One-time high class bumper performer Castello Sforza finished fourth in the 2016 Cheltenham Bumper but had punters on the ropes with his 2016/17 hurdles campaign. Then he failed to justify strong favouritism three times and while his overall form is quite strong, his only run since a solid third-placing at the 2017 Galway festival was when well beaten on his reappearance at Gowran last March. He could well return to form and win today but comes here a risky proposition. Rocks Of Bawnree is himself absent since failing to sell at the November 2016 Cheltenham Sale, having won his point-to-point the previous month. He clearly has ability but is absent for almost three years and is surely best watched today.

A hurdle for five years old and upwards, maidens at starting
Weights - 11st 12lbs ;Mares allowed 7lbs ;