Limestone Lad sensationally claimed the scalp of dual Champion Hurdle winner Istabraq at Fairyhouse yesterday in the Grade One Duggan Brothers Hatton's Grace Hurdle.
The ground rode very soft after a morning downpour and the five runners had to face a strong headwind, all of which may have contributed to only the third defeat for Istabraq in a 21-race career over hurdles.
His other losses were when beaten a head by Noble Thyne over two miles at Punchestown on his hurdling debut in 1996, and he went down by the same margin to Pridwell over two and a half miles at Aintree last year. Setting out to make all the running, Limestone Lad had built up a 20-length advantage before the half-way point, kept up the gallop and to the consternation of Istabraq's connections found plenty when the 1 to 7 favourite threw down his challenge going to the last.
He had five and a half lengths to spare over Istabraq at the line, with the British raider Master Beveled a distance back in third.
"I just kept something up my sleeve for the finish and the ground helped as well," said jockey Shane McGovern who has a 100 per cent strike rate from five outings on Limestone Lad.
"It was like making the running chasing after Limestone Lad and Istabraq just got tired after the last when I tried to pass the one in front," said Istabraq's jockey Charlie Swan.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien indicated that two runs at Leopardstown in the next couple of months would be on the agenda before Istabraq attempts to win the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham for a third time.
"I am not too disappointed because Istabraq is still heavy, as usual, at this stage of the season. We have only been keeping him ticking over," said O'Brien.
"The conditions today just found out Istabraq but I suppose the result is great for racing," he added.
"There's no need to panic," he said. "Take nothing away from the winner, he's a very good horse.
"Charlie (Swan) said he had him relaxed but the winner was never stopping."
Winning owner-trainer James Bowe was delighted with the success of Limestone Lad. "I've had horses since the 1940s and he's the best of an old-style jumping breed because he's all heart," he said. "He's a once-in-a-lifetime horse."
Alexander Banquet justified favouritism in the Grade One CPM Drinmore Novice Chase for Willie Mullins's stable.
Patiently ridden by Barry Geraghty to close on To Your Honour and Sallie's Girl before the home turn, the 7 to 4 shot survived an untidy jump two out to regain the lead before the last and beat Sallie's Girl by a distance.
Stage Affair was another odds-on chance to fall by the wayside, having to settle for the runner-up spot behind the Jessica Harrington-trained Moscow Flyer in the Grade One Pembroke Electrical Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
The winning trainer was pleased with the three-length success but has plans to campaign Moscow Flyer over further. "I think he'll get two and a half miles," she said.
The Istabraq team also suffered a reverse on Saturday when Triumph Hurdle favourite Yeoman's Point could manage only third place to Fable on his debut over jumps in the Fairyhouse Juvenile Hurdle. The Sadler's Wells gelding weakened approaching the last, at which point Fable was set to maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles with a cosy length-and-a-half victory over Calico Lady.
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