1st - €26,000.00 2nd - €8,000.00 3rd - €4,000.00 4th - €1,600.00 Fine

Formscan By Donal Murphy - Having finished behind Hurricane Fly nine times, THOUSAND STARS will be glad that his Champion Hurdle winning stable mate doesn't line up here. The grey gelding is a class act himself and he should prove too hot to handle with Ruby Walsh in the saddle. He got the better of Binocular in what was a great battle for second in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out and he will be hard to beat, despite giving weight all around. The 5yo Un Beau Matin is perhaps his biggest danger. Davy Russell has opted to ride the Gordon Elliott trained gelding who was unlucky last time out when he fell at the second last when still travelling well. Un Beau Matin will carry nine pounds less than Thousand Stars but the three time Grade 1 winning latter is still preferred. It will be interesting to see how leading Grand National contender On His Own gets on. The son of Presenting has run over hurdles just once but he has undoubted ability and a good run can be expected from him. Si C'etait Vrai and Whatuthink complete the field and although both are good horses in their own right, it would be a surprise if either of them managed to win this.

A hurdle race for five yrs old and upwards
Weights - 5-y-o 11st 1lb; 6-y-o and up 11st 3lb; Mares allowed 7lb
Penalties - (to count from 1st February, 2011) Winner of three hurdle races or of a Grade 3 hurdle race 3lb extra; Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or of a Grade 2 hurdle race 5lb extra; Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 7lb extra;