Limerick

Right-handed, galloping and undulating, Limerick is an oval circuit of around a mile and three furlongs. Runners encounter a testing climb along the back straight before descending towards the home turn, followed by another gradual rise through the closing stages. Judging pace carefully is therefore particularly important.

Horses need to conserve energy during the climb along the far side, while riders can be tempted to commit too early as they sweep downhill towards the straight. Those doing so may pay for their effort on the final rise, where stamina increasingly comes into play. The wide turn into the straight nevertheless gives horses plenty of opportunity to establish a rhythm.

The chase course features a demanding sequence of five fences in quick succession along the back straight. The obstacles are generally fair, although the second-last and, to a lesser extent, the final fence can cause problems. Overall, Limerick rewards fluent jumpers that travel strongly while conserving sufficient energy to cope with its climbs and demanding finish.