EVER since the race that was best known as the Raymond Smith Hunter Chase was demoted from the Irish Gold Cup card at Leopardstown to make way for the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival cards, the race has struggled to find its new place in the schedule.

The 2018 renewal was held at Punchestown a week after the Dublin Racing Festival. However, the right-handed configuration of the course did not provide trainers with the same preparation for the Cheltenham Foxhunter which had previously been the case when it was run at the Dublin course.