Review limerick 4th May

< Fiery Oscar has been in cracking form this year and made it four wins on the bounce for the Rodger Sweeney yard with a terrific display in the GAA Supporters Day 19th May Handicap Hurdle at Limerick.

The eight-year-old was reverting to the smaller obstacles after winning over fences last time, and he was running off a rating 21lb higher than he began the year with.

Colman Sweeney brought the 11-2 favourite into a challenging position on the turn for home and he skipped over the final two flights before clearing away to score by nine and a half lengths.

Philip Fenton's five-year-old Band Of Blood winner of a point-to-point and a bumper, added the www.limerickraces.ie Maiden Hurdle to his tally in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.

The 2-1 favourite travelled sweetly throughout the contest for Brian O'Connell and asserted going to the last before pulling four and a half lengths clear of Pumbaa for an easy victory.

Cork bumper winner Elegant Statesman carried the colours of his new owner JP McManus for the first time in the June 15th & 21st Twilight Racing Maiden Hurdle and showed himself to be a smart prospect.

Mark Walsh rode a confident race on the 13-8 favourite, who is now with Henry de Bromhead, and never looked like being passed even though the challengers were queuing up at the top of the straight. He beat Giant's Quest by two and a half lengths.

Andrew Lynch 'won' the Kellogs Cul Camps Handicap Hurdle on 7-2 favourite Easy Vic but Eugene O'Sullivan's length-and-a-half runner-up The Blarney Rose (12-1), ridden by Brendan Crowley, was badly squeezed up and got the race in the stewards' room.

Jessica Harrington's classy mare Burn And Turn (11-10 favourite), third in a Grade Three contest at Fairyhouse last time, won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase in some style, jumping ahead two out under Robbie Power and beating Six Stone Ned by eight lengths.