Weight is obviously a key factor, and the stats tell you to steer clear from those at the top of the handicap.
* No winner has carried more than 11st 8lbs for 51 years and only one horse has carried more than 11st 8lbs even into the frame since 1979.
* Horses officially rated between 128-135 have won the last six renewals
* Five-year-olds have much the best record having won seven of the last 12 renewals.
* The Irish have won four of the last eight runnings
* Anything saddeld by Philip Hobbs is worth keeping an eye on as he has saddled two winners,a second and two thirds from 17 runners since 1990.
*The key two prep races have been the Totesport Trophy and the MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown.The former has thrown up four winners out of the last seven, whilst the latter has provided three of the last 8 winners.
