1st - €21,000.00 2nd - €7,000.00 3rd - €3,500.00 4th - €1,750.00 5th - €1,050.00 6th - €700.00

FormscanBy Tom Weekes - A dairy farmer and kitchen joiner battle the 'big four' in this Pro-Am Classic and DREAL DEAL can win for Krafty Kitchen's Ronan McNally. Fungus aspergillus was on everyone's lips following DREAL DEAL's famous Navan gamble and while four subsequent wins were all at a low level, it was the manner in which the national hunt bred ex-point-to-pointer won two ordinary flat handicaps that was sufficiently impressive to suggest he can prove a smart hurdler. Farmer Paddy Corkery's Master McShee is a live contender having proven himself very able in three hurdles. He was beaten by Appreciate It at Cork in November and again proved his worth when winning a competitive handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas. He is top rated at 143 and it will take a smart horse to beat him. French import Ganapathi won nicely at Cork in November and is stable first-string. He did everything right winning at Cork and while open to vast improvement, the runner-up has been beaten in another maiden since, so clearly takes a big step up in grade. Stablemate Power Of Pause gave Master McShee 7lbs and a 4.5L beating in a bumper last March but that was Master McShee's debut. Power Of Pause has himself shown nice progression since but today's race is stronger than his recent CD win, with the runner-up being well held in Wednesday's Naas Grade 1. Magic Tricks easily won his maiden at Navan in December and while this is much stronger, is open to plenty progression. Gua Du Large was left clear with the fall of a subsequently beaten horse at Thurles in November and faces a stiffer test. Fire Attack is quite capable but needs to improve while Echoes Of Rain steps up from winning an ordinary Naas maiden in December.

A novice hurdle for five years old and upwards
Weights - 5-y-o 11st 2lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 4lbs Mares allowed 7lbs
Penalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of three hurdle races or a Grade 3 hurdle race 3lb extra Of two Grade 3 hurdle races or a Grade 2 hurdle race 6lb extra Of a Grade 1 hurdle race 8lb extra