3.35 2m. 110yds. 13 Declared. Ballykisteen Beginners S'chase of €11,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €6,600.00 2nd - €2,200.00 3rd - €1,100.00 4th - €550.00 5th - €330.00 6th - €220.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - The runner-up, third, fifth, sixth and seventh-placed horses from a recent same-distance Cork race re-oppose and NOW IS THE HOUR might again lead them home, and win today. A Grade 2 Haydock winner over three-miles last February, he nonetheless ran well when dropped in distance on chase debut at Cork (where he conceded 5lb to the winner) and a reproduction would give him every chance. Third-placed Fortunedefortunata has 7.5 lengths to find on that form while Mister Wilson finished fifth) and Cosmic Blizzard (sixth) should struggle. An Epic Song has a marked left-jumping tendency and disappointed when finishing seventh at Cork. Runner-up to famous Langer Dan in the 2023 Coral Cup, he is open to vast improvement going this direction but remains a work-in-progress and would prefer further. Capable Pinkerton disappointed at Thurles in February but had previously run well in two November chases. Summer Melody makes his chase debut.
A steeplechase for five years old and upwards that have not won a steeplechaseWeights - 11st 12lbs Mares allowed 7lbs