THE National Hunt provisional summary covering the January to April segment of the spring season has been released and it features a total of 15 hunter chases.

The most significant of the changes, is the previously confirmed demotion of what was formerly known as the Raymond Smith Memorial Hunter Chase, from one of the biggest race days in the calendar on the Irish Gold Cup card. The race which has a rich roll of honour featuring some of the star names within the hunter chase division over a number of years, will now be run at Punchestown a week later alongside the Grand National Trial.