The Limestone Lad Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years and over. It is run at Naas over a distance of 2 miles (3,219 metres) and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The race was first run in 1999, as the Bank of Ireland Hurdle. It was renamed in 2008 to honour Limestone Lad, who was second in the first running of the race and then won the next three runnings. Prior to 2017 it was run over 2 miles and 3 furlongs.
The race was awarded Grade 3 status in 2011.
Records Most successful horse (3 wins): Limestone Lad – 2000, 2001, 2002
Leading jockey (7 wins): Paul Townend - Mikael D'Haguenet (2012), Sandsend (2018), Stormy Ireland (2020), Bachasson (2021), Echoes In Rain (2023), Zarak The Brave (2024), Anzadam (2025)
Leading trainer (8 wins): Willie Mullins - Mikael D'Haguenet (2012), Sempre Medici (2016), Sandsend (2018), Stormy Ireland (2020), Bachasson (2021), Echoes In Rain (2023), Zarak The Brave (2024), Anzadam (2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1999 Le Coudray 5 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien 2000 Limestone Lad 8 S M McGovern James Bowe 2001 Limestone Lad 9 S M McGovern James Bowe 2002 Limestone Lad 10 Paul Carberry James Bowe 2003 Sacundai 6 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady 2004 Solerina 7 Gary Hutchinson James Bowe 2005 Sher Beau 6 Davy Russell Philip Fenton 2006 Solerina 9 Gary Hutchinson James Bowe 2007 Sweet Kiln 8 Davy Russell James Bowe2008 Abandoned 2009 Aitmatov 8 Paul Carberry Noel Meade 2010 Ebadiyan 5 J L Cullen Patrick O Brady 2011 Shinrock Paddy 7 Alain Cawley Paul Nolan 2012 Mikael D'Haguenet 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2013 Solwhit 9 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes 2014 Rule The World 7 Bryan Cooper Mouse Morris 2015 Kitten Rock 5 Mark Walsh Edward O'Grady 2016 Sempre Medici 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2017 Sutton Place 6 Mark Walsh Gordon Elliott 2018 Sandsend 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2019 Espoir d'Allen 5 Barry Geraghty Gavin Cromwell 2020 Stormy Ireland 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2021 Bachasson 10 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2022 Darasso 9 Mark Walsh Joseph O'Brien 2023 Echoes In Rain 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Zarak The Brave 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2025 Anzadam 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2026 Glen Kiln 7 Brian Hayes David Kelly
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,