RACING: Limestone Lad's third Ballymore Hatton's Grace Hurdle success yesterday has sparked off intense anticipation of a Cheltenham clash with Baracouda in the Stayers' Hurdle. Brian O'Connor reports.
The veteran star kept the large Fairyhouse crowd on their toes by running lazily but eventually won easing up and convinced connections he is as good as ever.
"We hope to meet Baracouda in the Stayers' and I think he will put it up to Baracouda, especially with cut in the ground," said John Bowe, son of owner-trainer, James Bowe.
Bookmaker reaction to Limestone Lad's 33rd career victory was to make the horse a general 7 to 1 second favourite for Cheltenham.
Any incongruity at the festival being so sharply in focus three and a half months in advance was ignored after each of yesterday's Grade One races.
Le Coudray is a 10 to 1 co-favourite for the SunAlliance Chase after a solid defeat of Barrow Drive in the Pierse Drinmore and Hardy Eustace is as low as 12 to 1 for the SunAlliance Hurdle after landing the Boylesports Royal Bond.
Typically though, it was Limestone Lad who grabbed most attention, keeping the packed stands on their toes until the turn-in. In terrible weather conditons, he ran lazily from the start and Barry Geraghty never looked entirely happy until his closest rival, Scottish Memories, started to struggle three out.
"He never did a stroke. It's very testing but when we turned in I got serious and he was impressive," Geraghty reported. The next date on Limestone Lad's busy schedule is Navan in 13 days time. After that, there is a possible clash with Bannow Bay at Leopardstown over Christmas, followed by a Cheltenham warm-up in the Boyne Hurdle.
"We're happier this year with him compared to last. We're not training him as hard between races. We were a little worried before the turn-in but Barry did a lot of work down Ballyhack and it paid off," John Bowe added.
Geraghty had earlier won on Le Coudray whose versatility will be exploited further in the Denny Chase over two miles at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.
"He won't have a penalty in the Denny and he has loads of pace. Cheltenham is a long way down the road and let's get the Denny out of the way first. I'm just thrilled that JP (McManus) gave him to me when he left Aidan O'Brien's," Christy Roche said afterwards.
The end of the Grade One novice hurdle was less clear cut with Hardy Eustace's stamina eventually trumping Back In Front who looked all over the winner at the second last. "He wants two and a half miles but the ground being so heavy was a help. He looked a SunAlliance horse and proved it today. He'll go to Leopardstown at Christmas," said the winning trainer, Dessie Hughes.
It was a length and a half to Back To Front whose performance was enough to earn a 12 to 1 quote from Cashmans for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Willie Mullins returned from his Hennessy triumph to saddle the first two home in the handicap chase and happily for punters they were in the right order. Macs Gildoran arrived at the last travelling just as well as the topweight Ross Moff but the issue was settled when Ross Moff fell at the last.
