Limerick ready for JT McNamara Munster National weekend
This Sunday’s Boyle Sports JT McNamara Munster National is the feature event on a weekend of jumps racing at Limerick Racecourse.
The Grade 3 contest, carrying a total value of €100,000, proudly honours the memory of the Croom jockey who won over 600 point-to-point races alone in a brilliant career which also yielded multiple triumphs at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals.
The race has a fine roll of honour which includes the great Tiger Roll and 16 runners will face the starter at 4pm.Local trainer Eric McNamara has taken the prize for the past two years. When French Dynamite prevailed 12 months ago, he defeated stable companion Weveallbeencaught by a length.
This pair are back for more and they will be joined by Look To The West from the same Rathkeale yard. Prominent in the early betting is Anyway, trained by Ken Budds near Tallow, a winner at Tramore on his most recent start over fences in August.
Also likely to receive market support is Bossofthebrownies, prepared by Mouse Morris who won the inaugural running of this race in 2001 with Foxchapel King. Just days after County Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell won the Velka Paradubicka for the second year running with Final Orders, last year’s hero Stumptown makes his return to action.
The topweight prevailed in Czechia after an absence of six months so a similar layoff may not count against him.
Owner JP McManus last won this race when Spider Web scored in 2018. His latest challenge is twofold, led by Uhavemeinstitches, winner of the Grade 3 Hugh McMahon Memorial Chase at this course and distance in March.
The six-year-old mare, trained by James Motherway, also placed at Grade 2 level here last Christmas. A Wave Of The Sea, based with Shane Broderick, is the other runner to carry the famed green and gold silks. It should be noted the last three winners of the Greenmount Park feature had all taken part in the Guinness Kerry National having finishing third, ninth and pulled up at Listowel.
The runners to suit that profile this year are Kings Hill, trained in Athenry by Paul Gilligan, Meetandgreet, from the Oliver McKiernan team, and the aforementioned French Dynamite and Looktothewest. Limerick Racecourse Interim Manager, Peter English, said:
“We are delighted to welcome all connections, riders, trainers and racing fans to the BOYLE Sports Munster National weekend.
“The main event, of course, is the 26th running of the Boyle Sports JT McNamara Munster National and we are looking forward to a very competitive renewal with a deep field declared.
“We are also looking forward to welcoming 16 worthy charities on Sunday. These will benefit from a charity sweepstake, very generously provided by JP McManus.
“A huge thank you also goes to Boyle Sports the title sponsor of the big race and to the local businesses who have sponsored races over the weekend. Without their support, weekends like these do not happen.”