Limerick, Thursday 16 April 2026 — Soft Ground, Eight Races

Limerick, Thursday 16 April 2026 — Soft Ground, Eight Races

Soft ground at Limerick today, which is the key filter running through every race on this card. Horses who have previously shown their best form on easier going get a big tick, and anything whose form figures show a clear preference for sounder surfaces can be filed away immediately. Gordon Elliott sends Jack Kennedy down and has nine winners from 94 runners in the last 14 days, so the Cullentra house is ticking over nicely. Let's get into the races.

1:05 — Locke Burger Mares Maiden Hurdle (2m5½f, Soft)

Fly Away Home at 9/4 (Bet365) is the selection here, and this looks an ordinary maiden for her to strike in. The C Byrnes yard has been in decent form, hitting two winners from seven runners in the past fortnight. More importantly, the form profile suits today's conditions perfectly. She stayed on to be second at Navan last month on soft ground over 2m4f, and now gets the extra distance she clearly wants, back up to 2m5f where she nearly won at Leopardstown before unseating at the last. That Leopardstown effort reads particularly well given the quality of mares who have come out of that meeting. The competition in this 13-runner field is weak enough that she should dominate without needing career-best form.

Babyburn carries Willie Mullins' colours and Paul Townend in the saddle, so you can never dismiss her, but she was too keen and very well beaten on her sole bumper start. The pedigree is electric, being a half-sister to Ballyburn, but she is completely unexposed over hurdles and at 3/1 you are paying for what she might be rather than what she has shown. Kisuton Enki at 8/1 is another expensive purchase with a big-race pedigree, but also a blank slate. Back the proven form on the right going.

Selection: Fly Away Home, 9/4 Bet365

1:35 — D & J Glazing Handicap Hurdle (2m5½f, Soft)

Crowsatedappletart Each-Way at 9/2 (Bet365 or William Hill) is the angle here. This horse has an outstanding course record at Limerick, and the Spotlight makes the crucial point that he has not been out of the first three in his last six starts around this track. Seven career wins over hurdles and fences, and he comes into today racing from a mark 14lb lower than his hurdles handicap mark. That is a significant drop. He was a disappointing favourite at Cork last time, but he was excused that run even before today's market opened, and returning from a break to a track where he clearly thrives changes the picture considerably. Michael Winters has had one winner from three runners in the last two weeks, so the yard is not cold.

Ma Jacks Hill at 3/1 for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy cannot be ignored. His second at Galway reads well, and he was not beaten far on handicap debut at Leopardstown. If the tongue-tie version turns up, he could easily win this. But at 3/1 you are getting no value for a horse who went very tamely at Navan and whose trainer is operating at a relatively modest strike-rate from 94 runners in the past fortnight.

Collaborative is interesting in first-time blinkers at 7/2. He won a Navan handicap hurdle on soft ground, the conditions are right, and a pair of placed efforts at 2m4f and 3m suggest he stays this trip comfortably. He is not dismissed.

Way Down South at 13/2 is worth a mention. He won the course maiden hurdle here in 2024, and while he unseated six out in a handicap chase here 16 days ago, he was still in contention at the time. The conditions suit.

Selection: Crowsatedappletart, 9/2 Bet365 (Each-Way, 3 places at 1/5 odds)

2:45 — D'Icon Novice Handicap Hurdle (2m, Soft)

Market Ready at 4/1 (Bet365) is the pick from what is now a seven-runner field after the non-running of Something Noble. That non-runner actually strengthens Market Ready's claims considerably. Something Noble had won this course and distance on soft ground last month and looked the form pick at the weights. With him out, this opens up.

Market Ready was a very good second of 13 at Clonmel on his handicap debut last time, beaten just a length on soft ground, and the Spotlight notes he was only outstayed late, which is not a problem stepping up from 2m flat today. He steps up 3lb in the weights, but he is entitled to be thereabouts after such an encouraging introduction to handicap company. Sean Aherne's yard is small, but the horse's own form profile makes the case independently.

Sense Of Occasion at 5/2 is the favourite now and represents Henry De Bromhead, who has six winners from 58 runners in the past 14 days, a respectable clip. His C&D run on heavy ground at Christmas showed improvement and he enters calculations on handicap debut. Mark Walsh in the saddle adds obvious weight to his claims at the price, but 5/2 in a seven-runner novice handicap is short enough for a horse on his first handicap start.

Shellrunforbriggs at 4/1 is interesting back over hurdles after running well in a Listed mares' novice chase. Darragh O'Keeffe takes the ride. Keep onside.

Selection: Market Ready, 4/1 Bet365

Today's NAP