2.20 3m. 100yds. 4 Declared. Racing Post Long Distance Novice S'chase (Grade 1) of €100,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €60,000.00 2nd - €20,000.00 3rd - €10,000.00 4th - €5,000.00
FormscanBy Alan Magee - BETTER DAYS AHEAD was a smart sort over hurdles last term winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and made a winning start over fences at Navan last month. The Milan gelding showed a tendency to jump left in the straight but finished strongly to beat Slade Steel over 2m4f. The selection had Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle winner Stellar Story behind when third in a 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown last spring. Croke Park scored on his chasing debut over 3m at Fairyhouse and again made all when gamely holding on in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at the same venue. Stellar Story was probably unsuited by the slow pace when narrowly beating two stablemates in a Grade 2 over this trip at Punchestown last time.
A novice steeplechase for four years old and upwardsWeights - 4-y-o 11st 1lbs 5-y-o and up 11st 10lbs Mares allowed 7lbs