15:40
Limerick Novice Handicap Hurdle
2m, Hurdle, 4yo+, 6 runners
Winning time 4m 36.80s
- Going
- Heavy
- Surface
- Turf
- Jumps
- 10 hurdles
Result
Sean O'Keeffe
C Byrnes
Settled towards the back early - improved into midfield through the middle stages - up into third and fourth by the sixth - hit a flat spot four out - cruising into second before two out - stayed on strongly up the run-in to get up right at the finish
Keith Donoghue
Gavin Cromwell
Sat just behind pacesetter early - in a handy spot travelling fairly - went on before the 6th - battled gamely up the run-in - caught right at the finish
Kieran Callaghan (5)
James M Barcoe
Held up towards the back - lost touch to sit sixth after the 4th - moved through to third around the 6th - slipped back to fifth approaching three out - pushed along in third before two out but unable to close on the front pair - held on same pace to finish third
Donagh Meyler
Kieran Purcell
Set the pace early - overtaken after the 1st - held a middling position before improving to 2nd by the 6th - back to 3rd approaching 3 out - lost touch to 5th with little threat by 2 out - faded steadily from there - held a modest 4th at the finish
G B Noonan (5)
Norman Lee
Settled with the pack early - held a middling spot through the 4th and 5th markers - shuffled back before the 6th - made headway approaching 4 out - narrowed the gap 3 out - lost a place before 2 out then lost momentum - held on for a modest fifth at the finish
Thomas O'Connor (7)
Mark Fahey
Slow to settle into stride early - urged forward to reach front-runner - went in front after 1st - advantage stretched after 3rd - well ahead before 4th - drifted off the turn before 6th and lost enthusiasm before being eased to a halt
Non-runners: Ballybrittas (allergy), Chautuaqua (coughing)
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.