Friday, 2 November 2012 - Saturday, 3 November 2012
This two-day festival is without question the highlight of the Northern Ireland racing calendar and indeed, it is one of the top National Hunt festivals in Ireland prior to Christmas.
The meeting is kicked off on the Friday with the Grade 2 WKD Core Hurdle taking centre stage. The 2010 renewal was won by the Jessie Harrington-trained Gimli’s Rock and that trainer also saddled the winner of the maiden chase on that card, the subsequent Grade 1 winner Boston’s Angel.
The showpiece of the festival is the Grade 1 J N Wine Merchant Chase on the Saturday which has attracted horses of the calibre of See More Business, Looks Like Trouble, Florida Pearl, Beef Or Salmon, Kicking King, War of Attrition and Kauto Star since its inception in 1999. The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star provided memorable moments for the race by winning the 2008 and 2010 renewals in great style, with both wins being greeted by a massive crowd.
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