5.15 1m. 2f. 4-y-o plus14 Ran
Paddocks H´cap (Rated 60-90) of €15,000.00 4-y-o plus

1st - €10,365.00, 2nd - €2,550.00, 3rd - €1,200.00, 4th - €750.00 14 Ran

The handicapper was probably the happiest man after this race with less than two and a half lengths separating the first six home and they were headed by Dolphin Bay who continued the great start to this current season for trainer James Burns.

It was two on the bounce for the dual purpose eight-year-old who ended last season with victory at Navan and began this season by scoring by a neck here in the hands of Rory Cleary after his mount came from the rear of the 14 runners to finish well and hold Honey Run.

The latter just failed for Noel Meade and the Tramore maiden winner should be able to hold her ground in handicap company for as long as connections stay down that route however like the winner she may be set to mix it on the level and over hurdles. An ease in the ground looks to be vital for the four-year-old.

The third place horse, Dani's Girl was an outsider of the runners under top weight but contended admirably with that burden to go down by half a length. Another to have experienced life over hurdles and while his maiden hurdle debut was not a success last month, trainer Pat Fahy has options for the future.

Favourite Siege Of Ennis was having his first run since finishing sixth in last month's Fred Winter Hurdle at Cheltenham and Eddie Harty's charge was a 3/1 chance to break his maiden on the level. He failed to do so however this time around over 10 furlongs even if only going down by a length and a quarter. Similar to the first three his options are open but a flat success has to be within grasp somewhere along the way.

Other well known national hunt figures among the field were Indian Spring who finished ninth in first time blinkers which seemed to have little bearing on the performance while Don't Be Bitin was three parts of a length further back and just not good enough on the day.