1st - €6,900.00 2nd - €1,700.00 3rd - €800.00 4th - €500.00 Fine, cold

FormscanBy Eamonn Murphy - Two likely prominent ones in the betting, Leap Dearg and FORITSA will do for me against the field here. Leap Dearg got a 13Ib hike in the ratings for his Naas romp last time but he's still only a seven-year-old and he'll surely make a bold bid to defy his impost for an in-form stable. Foritsa meanwhile gave further evidence why horses have different ratings for competition over flights and fences, when down the field as the strong 9/4 favourite in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse at the start of last month. Gordon Doyle's charge was looking for a four-timer going into that event. He's never won at as short as two miles though. However, given his prominent racing style, the minimum trip is not envisaged as being a barrier to success and it should be noted that his improvement in form began with a third placing here in October 2013. That came over two and a half miles and there he shaped like a winner when a 25/1 shot, coming to the straight, in a race that eventually fell the way of Old Supporter.

An extended handicap steeplechase for four yrs old and upwards (116 = 11st 10lb)
Weights - Top weight in the original handicap; shall not be less than 11st 10lb
Penalties - Winner of a steeplechase after calculation of the handicap to carry 6lb extra for each such steeplechase won. Any horse rated above 116 shall initially be treated as having that rating and the highest weight allotted shall be 11st 10lb. Subsequently, the excess over 116 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 116 shall have the applicable weight for age allowance then prevailing deducted from the horse's rating prior to the original calculation of the handicap)