Limerick Racecard: 13:55 Hurdle – Sky Sports Racing

Rocky’s Howya secured victory in the Claiming Hurdle at Limerick Racecourse on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, finishing ahead of Embittered and Timmy Tuesday in a race run on heavy turf. The six-runner event, worth €9,999 to the winner, saw Rocky’s Howya, ridden by Kevin Healy and trained by D. Queally, complete the 2m 5f course in a winning time of 5m 59.39s.

The victory wasn’t without its moments. According to the race report, Rocky’s Howya established a three-length lead at the fifth fence, but that advantage was reduced after the fourth obstacle. However, the horse and jockey combination responded, asserting their dominance before the second-to-last hurdle and extending their lead before the final jump, ultimately winning “easily.”

Embittered, a 12-year-old trained by E. McNamara and ridden by Patrick M. O’Brien, finished second, trailing Rocky’s Howya by 3 ½ lengths. The race report details Embittered’s progress from mid-division to challenging for the lead before fading in the final stages. Timmy Tuesday, an eight-year-old trained by G. Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, secured third place, finishing a further 23 lengths behind the leader. The report notes Timmy Tuesday tracked the leader initially but lost ground after the fifth fence and lacked the extra pace needed to contend in the final stretch.

The race saw several horses struggle to maintain contention. Luckinthecity, ridden by Jordan Gainford and trained by C. Collins, showed early promise, improving to track the leader after the fourth fence and even taking second at the fifth. However, the horse weakened significantly approaching the straight and was ultimately pulled up before the second-to-last hurdle. Cafe Con Leche, trained by C. Byrnes and ridden by Mr. A. D. Bustin, also faded after showing effort in the fourth fence, weakening before the second-to-last hurdle.

Lady Bee Great, a seven-year-old, finished at the rear of the field, while the official ratings highlight the varying levels of experience and form among the competitors. Rocky’s Howya carried a weight of 11-4 with an official rating of 102, while Timmy Tuesday and Embittered both carried 11-4 and 10-8 respectively, with ratings of 126 and 126. Luckinthecity carried 11-0 with a rating of 130, and Cafe Con Leche carried 10-10 with a rating of 115.

The race was run under challenging conditions, with the going described as heavy. The total prize money on offer was €9,999, with the winner receiving €6,000, second place earning €2,000, and third place taking home €999. The fourth-place finisher was slated to receive €500.

The Limerick Racecourse hosted a full card of racing on February 10th, with other meetings taking place at Ayr, Ffos Las, Lingfield Park, Newcastle, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Midi, Machecoul, Marseille, Vincennes, and Vaal. A Mares Maiden Hurdle, the Conference & Banqueting Facilities At Limerick Mares Maiden Hurdle, followed the Claiming Hurdle, featuring eleven runners over 1m 7f 150y, also on heavy turf. Fly Away Home won that race, with Golden Wings and Jennyfromtheblock finishing second and third respectively.

The results from the Limerick Racecourse Claiming Hurdle provide a snapshot of the competitive landscape within Irish National Hunt racing. Rocky’s Howya’s victory demonstrates the effectiveness of a front-running strategy under challenging conditions, while the struggles of horses like Luckinthecity highlight the importance of stamina and consistency in hurdle racing. The varying official ratings of the competitors underscore the complexities of handicapping and the challenges faced by trainers and jockeys in preparing their horses for these types of races.