3.05 2m. 17 Declared. BARONERACING.COM H'cap H'dle (Grade A) of €100,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €60,000.00 2nd - €20,000.00 3rd - €10,000.00 4th - €5,000.00 5th - €3,000.00 6th - €2,000.00
FormscanBy Donal Murphy - A fiercely competitive affair. The first five home in the Charles Hurst DS Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal last month reoppose here, with Nibiru just coming out on top at the northern venue, beating Watch The Weather and Pinkerton by a short head and a head. A mistake at the last may have ultimately cost Pinkerton and it'll come as no surprise if he manages to reverse the form now. A Grade 3 winner over the course and distance in February, Icare Allen is another leading candidate. He since finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and looks capable of making his presence felt here on what will be his handicap debut. For a selection, it might be worth siding with LUCKY MAX. Successful three times last winter, he was narrowly beaten in the Brown Lad at Naas last month. He drops back in trip now to two miles and with Michael O’Sullivan claiming a valuable 5lb, he should give a good account of himself. In From The Cold is an interesting contender on his debut for Gordon Elliott, while others for the shortlist are Merlin Giant, Sit Down Lucy, An Epic Song and Explosive Boy.
An extended handicap hurdle for four years old and upwards that have run at least three times in hurdle races up to and including 20th November 2022Penalties - Winner of a hurdle race or hurdle races after calculation of the handicap shall carry any penalty or penalties which may be allotted by the Handicapper.