Roche's mare lands epic duel

RACING: Like-A-Butterfly and Limestone Lad turned the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle into the race of the season at Leopardstown yesterday. After a titanic duel up the long straight, the Champion Hurdle aspirant had a head in hand of the star stayer, but both horses, and the 9,752 crowd, emerged winners. Brian O'Connor reports.

Typically Limestone Lad set out to dominate from the front and equally typically almost took Like-A-Butterfly's challenge as a personal affront. That he battled back was no surprise but Like-A-Butterfly's indignant response was enough to make the subsequent 6 to 1 quotes for Cheltenham almost seem generous.

Three Champion Hurdle victories on Istabraq has left Charlie Swan with a priceless knowledge of what is required to win the festival feature and five previous AIG wins means he knows what is required to make the leap to Cheltenham success.

Significantly his verdict on Like-A-Butterfly was: "She has to have a big chance - if there is cut in the ground. She does need that." Owner JP McManus was in Barbados but Christy Roche gave out the same festival vibe even though it seemed to matter little to him.

"This is as big as they come for me. Cheltenham was fantastic but so is this. She loves to win and it was great to see that quality," the trainer said. "I was amazed the way she battled. There's no place to hide with Limestone Lad out there and she had to have that to get by him. But what a race," he added.

That sentiment was echoed by Michael Bowe who will run Limestone Lad in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan en route to the Stayers' at Cheltenham. "I was thrilled with him. He has the heart of a lion to do that in conditions that were drying out by the hour. But that will have sharpened him up. He had to jump quicker there than he normally has to," Bowe said.

It wasn't just the jumping that was quick. Like-A-Butterfly's winning time was almost 11 seconds faster than the opening maiden hurdle.

"It was a great performance considering it was her first run of the season and a fantastic job by Christy. You have to bring you're A-game when you take on Limestone Lad," Swan remarked.

Asked for a comparison with the prominent Champion Hurdle contender Intersky Falcon, Swan explained: "They are very different. He's very quick, a bit freakish. But this mare has a lot more pace than it looks sometimes. A hundred yards from the line I thought I was in trouble but she just picked up again." It was 13 lengths back to Stage Affair in third with Scottish Memories a disappointing fourth.

The stewards held an inquiry into possible interference from the last hurdle but made no alteration.

Jessica Harrington had to cope with conflicting emotions after Bust Out's narrow success in the Baileys Arkle Cup.

The winner's stable companion Soltero broke his back and had to be put down after a fall at the third last, leaving Harrington close to tears in the winner's enclosure.

Moscow Flyer, on course for the Tied Cottage Chase next Sunday, won the Arkle At Cheltenham last year and Bust Out is now as low as 10 to 1 with Powers to follow in his footsteps.

"They are very different but tend to make life difficult for themselves. We will have to work on getting Bust Out to jump quicker but he will get better on better ground," Harrington said.

It was a length back to the outsider Native Scout and the chasing newcomer Alexander Milenium entered some Arkle books at 16 to 1 despite falling at the second last.

Back In Front is as low as 5 to 1 favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after his successful return in the maiden hurdle.

It was just three parts of a length back to the runner-up but Back In Front travelled well through the race and Edward O'Grady expects improvement.

"The ground is more testing than I expected but I'm relieved he is back on track. If there is an alternative race to the Deloitte & Touche we will take it," O'Grady said.

Solerina will definitely take the Deloitte & Touche route to the SunAlliance after justifying long odds-on in the Grade Three hurdle. "She is pure class and my worry today was that she might blow up," said Michael Bowe whose chances of winning the Stayers' and the SunAlliance are rated at just 50 to 1 by Cashmans.

John Cullen received a two-day whip ban after guiding Billy The Snake to a head defeat of Clonmel's Minella in the handicap chase.

The Christy Roche-JP McManus team, successful with Like-A-Butterfly in the big race, were odds on to win the bumper but The Kop End could manage only third behind the 14 to 1 Storm Boxer.

The Bookie turnover of €1,705,428 was up €386,759 on last year and the Tote figure of €334,399 was up €42,564.