See also » McDonagh-lands-first-graded-success-on-Nells-Well
Nearly every year there's a small entry for this race, and I remember having a nice mare years ago, Outlaw Princess, placed to Mossbank in it. Black-type is what it's all about. The man that owns her, when she won her point to point he had no interest in selling her and he wanted to have a runner. Back then, when she won, it was his first winner. So, to make a long story short, she always wanted a trip but the programme of races that are there, between here and next January, forced our hand to come here. It was either that or go to Punchestown for a handicap. But, even when she ran in handicaps, she was out on her head. I said to Mark (McDonagh) going out, to ride her to get home and try to pick up the pieces. I thought he did that better than I could have envisaged. Did I expect that? No. Did I expect her to be placed? On her handicap mark, no. But three miles on soft ground, and you're just hoping one or two don't step up to the mark, and that's what happened. The race fell apart, and she just kept galloping, and her jumping was unbelievable. But he never got involved, he put her asleep through the race. He had walked the track and he just said that down the paint, if he could get real tight, he thought he could make nice ground without being inside in terrible ground. And that's exactly what happened. I thought he gave her a peach of a ride. It was his first graded winner. We couldn't claim the 7lbs but to be fair to the man who owns her, Pat Casey, he said he still wanted Sean O O'Brien, trainer

A novice hurdle for four years old and upwards
Weights - 4-y-o 11st 1lbs 5-y-o and up 11st 2lbs Mares allowed 7lbs
Penalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of two hurdle races 3lb extra Of three hurdle races or of a Grade 3 hurdle race 6lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or of a Grade 2 hurdle race 8lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 10lb extra