Limestone Lad easily recorded his 28th career victory at Navan this afternoon. Paul Carberry's mount was unchallenged throughout as the horse followed up his victory in the same event two years ago over Le Coudray.
Starting at 11-2 on, Limestone lad bounced out in front as usual and Carberry never had an anxious moment in the four-runner field despite the attempts of Catch Ball to close in the home straight. Michael Bowe, who does all the work at home for his father, James, with Limestone Lad, said: "He loves going racing and the plan now is to go for the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown."
Jockey Charlie Swan took the valuable Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novices' Hurdle, as well as the Powers Gold Label Handicap Hurdle, in the J P McManus colours in contrasting styles aboard the odds-on Over the Bar and Anxious Moments.
Champion jockey Ruby Walsh had a nasty experience aboard the favourite Macs Gildoran in the Navan Novices Chase as the horse veered suddenly to his right at the third-last fence and went out through the plastic wing of the obstacle with Walsh fortunate to stay aboard as the horse ended up on the ambulance track.
Victory in this event went to the best-backed horse in the race Silver Steel ridden by amateur Alan Crowe. The stewards were in action during the afternoon and took a dim view of the performance of the long-absent His Song in Limestone Lad's race after the horse had trailed the field from the outset.
Jockey David Casey intends to appeal against a seven-day suspension, starting on December 26th, incurred as the stewards felt he had made insufficient effort. Apart from the ban on Casey, His Song was banned from running again for six weeks and trainer Mouse Morris was handed a IR£500 fine.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
