Tipperary-trained horse bidding to be in the shake-up for Grade One success in Limerick

The Grade One Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase, the first Grade One race to be staged in Munster when it was upgraded to the highest level in 2018, is the highlight of the year at Limerick Racecourse’s Christmas Festival.

This year’s renewal will take place on Sunday, December 28 and the two miles five furlong test is one with a serious recent history.

Impaire Et Passe prevailed last year and subsequently won at the highest level at Aintree. Two years ago, Gaelic Warrior won at the Patrickswell track before going onto Arkle glory at Cheltenham just months later. In 2022, Gerri Colombe triumphed and won two of his next three starts in England, both Grade 1s.

These latest winners clearly set a very high standard to follow and Willie Mullins appears very determined to capture the glory for the third successive time, given that he trains five of the nine horses standing their ground.

READ NEXT: Public consultation on Tipperary's parking charges 

Leading the Closutton quintet is Final Demand, a dual Grade 1 winning novice hurdler last season, whose debut run over fences at Navan last month could not have gone much better, scoring as he pleased by 13 lengths after which he was described as "the real deal" by his trainer. Final Demand will likely start an odds-on chance should he line up.

Second pick in the market at this stage is Oscars Brother trained in Cashel by Connor King, the former dual champion apprentice jockey on the Flat. Champion owner JP McManus recently acquired this winner of the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown when the trainer’s brother Daniel was in the saddle.

SEE MORE:  Plan unveiled to reopen golf course in Tipperary

Other contenders at the forfeit stage include Jimmy Du Seuil, winner of the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last season; Gold Dancer, winner of two of his most recent three novice chase starts, both at Grade 3 level; and Kitzbuhel and Predators Gold, both successful in their only outings to date over fences, and which complete the Mullins team.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead prepares The Big Westerner who ran second, beaten four lengths, by Jimmy Du Seuil on his chasing bow at the end of November. This horse won the Grade 2 Lyons of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle at this fixture last year and placed second at Grade 1 level at the Cheltenham Festival, so she merits respect.  

Lonesome Boatman, trained by Sean Allen, and Western Walk, trained by Jonathan Sweeney, complete the line-up at the forfeit stage.