The Fergus O'Toole Memorial Novice Hurdle is a Listed National Hunt novice hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Limerick over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs (4,224 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.
The race was first run in 2001 and was awarded Grade 3 status in 2011. It was downgraded to Listed status from 2016. The race was sponsored by Newenham Mulligan Architects from 2001 to 2009. It was later named in memory of a local businessman, Fergus O'Toole, who died in 2010. In 2017 and 2018 the race was run as the Dunraven Arms Hotel Novice Hurdle and it was 2019 it was named the Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Hurdle. Since 2020 it has been run as the Bluegrass Horse Feed Novice Hurdle.
Records Most successful jockey (4 wins): Ruby Walsh - Royal Reveille (2011), Zuzka (2012), Indevan (2013), Long Dog (2015)
Most successful trainer (5 wins): Willie Mullins– Zuzka (2012), Indevan (2013), Long Dog (2015), Robin Des Foret (2017), High Class Hero (2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 2001 Golden Row 7 P P O'Brien Charles Byrnes 2002 Colonel Monroe 5 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady 2003 Lowlander 4 Paul Carberry Dermot Weld 2004 Laurel View 6 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2005 Mossbank 5 Denis O'Regan Michael Hourigan 2006 Amalfitano 6 Barry Geraghty A K Wyse 2007 Major Finnegan 5 Davy Russell W J Burke 2008 Alpha Ridge 6 Alain Cawley Paul Nolan 2009 Warne 5 Andrew McNamara Edward O'Grady 2010 Macville 6 Paul Townend Patrick Neville 2011 Royal Reveille 6 Ruby Walsh Ted Walsh 2012 Zuzka 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2013 Indevan 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2014 Hash Brown 5 Barry Geraghty Michael Hourigan 2015 Long Dog 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2016 Peregrine Run 6 Roger Loughran Peter Fahey 2017 Robin Des Foret 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2018 Percy Veer 6 Davy Russell Eric McNamara 2019 Darver Star 7 Jonathan Moore Gavin Cromwell 2020 Formal Order 4 Sean Flanagan Matthew Smith 2021 Off Your Rocco 5 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2022 Plains Indian 6 Danny Mullins Andrew Slattery 2023 High Class Hero 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 World Of Fortunes 6 Jordan Gainford Liam Kenny 2025 Shadow Paddy 5 Simon Torrens Eoin McCarthy
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,