Milenium is major doubt

RACING: The ground at Punchestown looks likely to upset plans for an intriguing clash between Limestone Lad and the Smurfit Champion Hurdle favourite Davenport Milenium on Saturday.

Both horses figure among the nine-strong entry left in the Morgiana Hurdle, but for the second week running the going could rule Davenport Milenium out of a first start of the season.

"I will have to watch the weather and I will probably walk the track later in the week but it is doubtful if we will get the good ground we want," trainer Willie Mullins said yesterday.

"I'm hoping to run but it's not like we are bursting to do so. There is a whole year to go and there are other options. I'm not worried about facing Limestone Lad even though he is fit and well and mine probably needs the run," he added.

Davenport Milenium was a late withdrawal from a race at Down Royal last Friday and the current "soft to heavy" conditions at the Kildare track look unlikely to change. "We had 4 mms of rain last night and the forecast is for showers so I can see the ground being in or around the same on Saturday," said the Punchestown spokesman Richie Galway.

There are no such concerns for Limestone Lad who missed his own intended engagement last weekend when Naas was rained off. "It doesn't really matter what else runs in the Morgiana because he needs the run. I have to get one into him before the Hatton's Grace Hurdle. No matter how much work I give him at home, it is not as good as a race," said Michael Bowe yesterday.

Limestone Lad put in one of the performances of the season in last year's Morgiana when rallying to beat the subsequent AIG winner Ned Kelly. Also entered this time round is his old rival Liss A Paoraigh, second in the Lismullen 10 days ago, and the smart novice Ballyhampshire Boy.

The Henry Daly-trained Behrajan tops the weights among the 12 that have been left in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan on Sunday.

But one man who will be concentrating on the Tote Exacta Monksfield Novice Hurdle is Christy Roche. His smart young hurdler Wouldn't You Agree is also entered for a Grade Two at Cheltenham on Friday but Roche said: "I would say Navan is favourite. I'm getting very good reports of the ground there."

Roche's smart novice chaser Le Coudray is in the beginners chase but although being "in great shape" he is not a certain starter.

Willie Mullins's good bumper horse of last season, Alexander Milenium, is also unlikely to begin his chasing career in the race. Both Mullins and Roche are likely to be represented in Saturday's Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham with Its Time For A Win and Killultagh Storm respectively.