See also » Magical-Mullins-steels-Navans-opener
Danny is brilliant, he's a top-class young man and brings a bit of fun, and everything, to our place - he's my Ruby Walsh! . He knows all those horses so well and it's a huge advantage. He's done schooling and knows everyone of them. He has a great knowledge of my horses and I knew when he was so far clear he’d know exactly how much he had left; they let him go a little bit too. he has a lovely chase mark of 124 and should get in to the Troytown, so I’d say we'll have a go at that; he’ll love the trip as he stays real well. He's a different horse all together going left-handed and doesn't even want to start going right-handed. He had a nice mark there off 107 (over hurdles) and it was there to be collected at some stage, on a going day. John Patrick Ryan, trainer

The Stewards enquired, under the provisions of Rule 212, into the riding of Ben Brody, ridden by D.J. McInerney, Seskinane ridden by P.T. Enright, Sir Ector, ridden by P. Townend, Two In One ridden by B. Browne, Carrigready, ridden by A.E. Lynch, Swingbridge, ridden by D.N. Russell, Archie Meade, ridden by A.W. Short, Aa Bee See, ridden by M.P. Walsh and There Was A Time, ridden by L.P. Dempsey, as the winning horse obtained a significant lead without any apparent challenge from the remainder of the field. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. D.J. McInerney stated that his instructions were to drop in to the race early and in running his mount tired and he couldn't travel any quicker. P.T Enright stated that his instructions were to drop into the race and be the last to challenge, and in running he felt that if he travelled faster he wouldn't have achieved his finishing position. P.T. Enright also noted that he achieved his best position considering that he was carrying top weight. P. Townend stated that his mount got tired in this race and had he travelled any quicker he would not have finished this race. B. Browne stated that his instructions were to stay in fourth or fifth position during the race before challenging and in running he was off the bridle and couldn't travel any quicker. A.E. Lynch stated that his mount didn't handle the ground and that he could not have travelled any quicker. D.N. Russell stated that his mount made bad mistakes and that in running he rode to instructions and he could not have travelled any faster. D.N. Russell also noted the winning horse's previous form and that he thought that the winner might have come back to the chasing pack at an earlier stage. A.W. Short stated that his instructions were to jump off handy and in running his mount got tired and could not have travelled any quicker. M.P. Walsh stated that his instructions were to drop in handy and in running his mount could not have challenged sooner, had he done so he may not have finished second in this race. L.P. Dempsey stated that his instructions were to stay in fifth or sixth position before challenging and in running his mount could not travel quicker earlier on. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanations offered and took no further action. P. Townend, rider of Sir Ector (USA) trained by Miss Nicole McKenna, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got tired. A.E. Lynch, rider of Carrigready trained by Vincent Laurence Halley, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount didn't handle the ground. D.N. Russell, rider of Swingbridge trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made bad mistakes.

An extended handicap hurdle for four yrs old and upwards rated 80-116
Penalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap to carry 4lb extra for each hurdle race won.