Limerick stages JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National

PREPARATIONS are continuing at Limerick Racecourse for the staging of the €100,000 JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National which goes ahead at the track this Sunday, October, 9.

Munster's oldest race will be run this year to commemorate legendary Croom amateur rider John Thomas McNamara who partnered 602 winners on the point-to-point circuit alone.

The late JT McNamara’s considerable talent reached a much wider audience with his many high-profile wins on the racecourse, particularly at Punchestown and Cheltenham, in a highly successful career.

The Munster National is one of the oldest steeplechases in Ireland. In addition to top class national hunt racing the day includes a best-dressed lady competition, with a winner’s prize of €4,000 sponsored by Keanes Jewellers.

Limerick Racecourse hosts two days of racing this weekend. Limerick also races on this Saturday, October 8 when the second running of the €25,000 McMahons Munster Mile is the feature on a seven race Flat card. The first race on Saturday is due off at 1.40pm.

Racing gets underway on Sunday at 1.55pm, with the feature race, the John Thomas McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National due off at 4.10pm.

Henry de Bromhead, who won the race last year with the Andrew Lynch-ridden Sadler’s Risk, has a number of fancied entries this time round, including Stellar Notion and Elegant Statesman.

Lord Scoundrel and Wrath Of Titans, two big winners for Gordon Elliott in recent months, head an impressive entry for the race. On his penultimate start, Lord Scoundrel won the TheTote.com Galway Plate and he has been handed top-weight of 11st 10lbs.

Wrath Of Titans is set to carry 10st 5lbs as he bids to add to his success in the Guinness Kerry National under Lisa O’Neill at Listowel.

Local handler Michael Hourigan has entered two, The Job Is Right on 10st 5lbs and Hash Brown on 9st 4lbs. Hourigan won the race with Mossbank in 2007 and another local trainer on the roll of honour is Eric McNamara who trained Kaselectric to win in 1999, who is also due to be represented on Sunday.

Conor O’Neill, General Manager Limerick Racecourse, said, “I’m absolutely delighted with the calibre of entries for the inaugural running of the JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National.”