See also » Connell-has-big-plans-for-Enniskerry
We hit the bar with him last year when we were second to M C Muldoon in the graded race,. He's by Jeremy, and there's not too many of them around, and they always improve for a jump. It was high run over fences and you couldn't be too confident coming here today as there were a lot of highly-rated horses in it. We felt he'd run a nice race as he was in super form at home and I'm not surprised he's won. I would have been disappointed if he wasn't in the first three. I think fences suit him as he's a keen going horse and over hurdles he's just inclined to over race. With the extra number of fences there it settles him. We only schooled him a couple of times up the strip in the Curragh. The two fences in the dip he jumped like a showjumper. I was a little concerned the highly rated horse, Midnight Run, came up beside him but Sean said he had been filling him coming down the hill. We had dropped him back to two-and-a-quarter, he was a two-and-a-half or two-six horse over hurdles. We'll enjoy today and hopefully we have a nice potential graded horse. Barry Connell, trainer

D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Hannon trained by Thomas Gibney, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was pulled up lame during this race.

A steeplechase for four years old and upwards that have not won a steeplechase
Weights - 4-y-o 11st 5-y-o and up 11st 12lbs Mares allowed 7lbs