1st - €44,250.00 2nd - €15,000.00 3rd - €7,500.00 4th - €3,750.00 5th - €2,250.00 6th - €1,500.00 Sunny

FormscanBy Tom Weekes - THOMAS HOBSON makes his return to hurdling here and can prove best despite disappointing in the Ascot Gold Cup. His high class staying flat career has sandwiched a slightly difficult period over hurdles between 2015-2017 and while he won a Grade 2 novice hurdle in that sphere, he didn't always look comfortable hurdling. That said, he remains a high class horse and while he pulled too hard at Royal Ascot, he did run well in a Group 2 in Germany in May and comes here a high class performer who might prove best if his jumping is adequate. Band Of Outlaws's flat rating reached 93 as a miler and has since gone on to do very well over hurdles. He himself was initially a poor jumper of hurdles but progressed very well and won the Fred Winter Hurdle at Cheltenham. He was well enough in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April and probably needs to do more than that to beat an on-song THOMAS HOBSON today. Plinth won this race in 2017 while he was a winner over fences at Kilbeggan last time, he should lack a gear for some of these today. Tombstone is an eight-time winner and while he usually figures at the business end in these sort of races, he should bump into a few too strong today.

A hurdle for four years old and upwards
Weights - 4-y-o 10st 8lbs ;5-y-o and up 11st ;Mares allowed 7lbs ;
Penalties - (to count from 1st January, 2018) Winner of two hurdle races 4lb extra Of three hurdle races or a Grade 3 hurdle race 7lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or a Grade 2 hurdle race 9lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 11lb extra