Limerick officials aim to host 20,000 race fans over their four day Christmas festival and the outdoor focus of the festive action has resulted in a significant investment in open-air facilities.
A total of €84,000 has been spent on amenities that will allow a sold out St Stephen’s Day capacity attendance of 5,000 continue their holiday celebrations.
That includes half a dozen marquees which will also be in use at the following three fixtures for which tickets are still available online.
“We have invested a lot and to be fair to the Limerick board they’ve left no stone unturned to ensure people have a safe enjoyable experience,” Limerick’s interim manager Paddy Dunican said on Thursday.
“The focus is on outdoor. Racing is a social event and people in the past have shown they are prepared to go without some comforts as long as they’re racing. So the advice is to wrap up,” he added.
Limerick’s Grade One feature on St Stephen’s Day is the €100,000 Boylesports Faugheen Novice Chase, named after its memorable 2019 winner.
That was one of four Willie Mullins-trained winners in the last six years, although the champion trainer isn’t represented this time.
Gavin Cromwell has left both Gabynako and Vanillier among the eight declarations while Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud team has three options topped by Farouk d’Alene.
The latter beat Vanillier in a heavy ground slog over hurdles at last year’s Limerick festival, form subsequently boosted by the latter at Cheltenham.
Farouk d’Alene was out of action until earlier this month at Navan when making a winning debut over fences ahead of Blue Sari and Ashdale Bob.
That was a smart performance and with ground conditions at Limerick already testing – with up to 20mm of more rain forecast before Sunday – his proven stamina is a major plus.
"That was his first run since last Christmas so I would be expecting him to come forward a bit from that but he'll need to as he is going in at the deep end," Farouk d'Alene's trainer Gordon Elliott said.
“It looks a hot race and Gavin [Cromwell] has a couple of nice horses in there but that’s what you get in these Grade One races.”
One of those Cromwell hopes, Gabynako, has proven top-flight form in his armoury after a gallant second to Beacon Edge in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse last month.
That appears to be the benchmark in this contest and makes Gabynako a likely favourite under Darragh O’Keeffe.
His namesake, Seán O’Keeffe, is another of the rising stars in the jockey ranks and the Cheltenham festival-winning rider has a shot at a first Grade One victory on Lifetime Ambition.
Jessica Harrington’s six-year-old could finish only fourth in the Drinmore and never looked as comfortable as he did when previously beating Beacon Edge and Vanillier at Down Royal.
That Drinmore was on much quicker going than will be the case in Limerick and the conditions could suit Lifetime Ambition a lot more this time.
The following handicap chase remembers the late Andrew McNamara and there would be no more appropriate winner than Lessofdnegativity.
He is handled by the late trainer’s son, Andrew, and will line up on the back of a recent well-supported success on heavy ground at Tramore.
Daly Tiger reverts to flights for a conditions hurdle having had the thankless task of chasing home Energuemene over fences at Cork last time.
He doesn’t face anything of that calibre now but does face having to concede 10lbs to the mare Choice Of Words.
She disappointed at Punchestown last time but had previously won well on soft ground in Galway.
