4.50 2m. 4f. 56yds. 22 Declared. Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2 ) of £52,500.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €32,498.00 2nd - €9,650.00 3rd - €4,825.00 4th - €2,404.00 5th - €1,208.00 6th - €609.00 7th - €304.00 8th - €147.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - LANGER DAN might scoop the 50,000 pounds Imperial Cup-Cheltenham bonus with another win here. Beaten just 4L when sixth in last year's Boodles Hurdle, LANGER DAN is proven in big-field handicaps and can defy his mandatory 5lbs penalty for winning the Imperial Cup six days ago. Galopin Des Champs was a 100/1 chance when finishing just 9.25L behind Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Appreciate It in a Leopardstown Grade 1 last month and is a fascinating runner on handicap debut. A debut Auteuil winner last May, he remains underexposed and while he could run a big race from his 140 mark, all his form has been on testing ground, with drying ground possibly being a concern. Stablemate and French import Gentleman De Mee faces a stiffer task today than when easily winning a Naas maiden hurdle last month but hails from a formidable yard. He is difficult to assess and could go close form his initial 139 rating. Gabynako is another strong contender given he finished just 8.75L behind Bob Olinger in a Grade 1 at Naas in January. He made an early blunder on handicap debut in a big-field handicap at Leopardstown last month and with that experience likely to stand to him, will be more battle-hardened for today's race and should figure.