© Photo Healy Racing
Title sponsor BoyleSports has made Horantzau D’airy the 7/2 favourite for Sunday’s JT McNamara Munster National at Limerick Racecourse.
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was last seen finishing second to runaway winner Flooring Porter in the Kerry National and has already been supported into favouritism to go one better at Limerick, having opened a 5/1 chance.
Gavin Cromwell will unleash a dual pronged attack on the €100,000 feature race with Grand National Trial scorer Yeah Man (7/1) the mount of Keith Donoghue and beaten Galway Plate favourite Perceval Legallois a well fancied 8/1 shot.
Last year’s winning trainer Gordon Elliott accounts for seven of the nineteen declarations, with the oddsmakers rating Favori De Champdou, who was last seen scoring in a Grade 3 over course and distance in April, his leading chance at 8/1.
One of Elliott’s former stable stars is also making his way to the Treaty track, with 2016 Munster National winner and dual Grand National winning hero Tiger Roll set to parade before the big race on Sunday.
The race will also feature a charity sweepstake supported by JP & Noreen McManus and Family, which will see charities across the MidWest benefit from the significant pool. Each of the charities will be allotted a horse in the BoyleSports Munster National, with the winning charity benefiting from a €20,000 donation and second and third place receiving €3,000 and €2,000 respectively. Each of the remaining charities will also receive a €1,000 donation towards a specific project or initiative.
Perceval Legallois and Mark Walsh jump the last to win the Galway Beginners Steeplechase © Photo Healy Racing
Perceval Legallois will head the leading Limerick businessman’s personal interest in the race, with top weight Janidil (20/1) also set to carry McManus’ famous green and gold silks.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “We’re delighted that the Munster National has attracted such a high-quality field, not to mention a famous former winner in Tiger Roll making a rare public appearance. It looks like one of the most competitive renewals in recent years as you can make a case for every runner and with the added benefit of a charity sweepstake this year, we can’t wait to see it all unfold.”
