1st - €10,695.00 2nd - €2,635.00 3rd - €1,240.00 4th - €775.00 Overcast with showers

FormscanBy Tom Weekes - I C GOLD comes here on the right side of the handicap having shown nice improvement in recent months. She had bits of form for previous connections in 2012 and now seems well capable of following up her recent win, albeit now dropping back slightly in trip, from quite a low mark. Three times course winner Muzak is , in theory, something of a handicap blot now that he competes from a hurdle mark 26lbs lower than his chase rating. He may be primed for this but his two runs this year have been slightly disappointing and he was also beaten on his last two handicap hurdle starts, when in otherwise good form over fences. Whatever It Takes has won five times in total and is another in fine form. He goes well on fast ground and races from a level from which he can win. Fethard Player had been in excellent form until exiting on his latest run but now competes from a career high mark. Pennys Tune, by Montjeu, has a poor behaviour record at the start of her races and refused to race latest. She generally runs very well once started and would have solid claims if, if jumping off.

An extended handicap hurdle for four yrs old and upwards (123 = 11st 10lb)
Weights - Top weight in the original handicap shall not; be less than 11st 10lb
Penalties - Winner of a hurdle race after calculation of the handicap to carry 6lb extra for each hurdle race won. Any horse rated above 123 shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 11st 10lb. Subsequently, the excess over 123 in any rating shall be added to the weight allotted to that horse. (For the purpose of this note, any four year old rated above 123 shall have the applicable weight for age allowance then prevailing deducted from the horse's rating prior to the original calculation of the handicap)