Aidan O'Brien's Istabraq heads a list of 40 entries confirmed today for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March but Limestone Lad is set for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle. The 10-year-old gelding finished runner-up to Bacchanal in the 2000 Stayers' Hurdle and it seems trainer James Bowe feels his best chance for Cheltenham glory would be to by-pass the Champion Hurdle event.
"There was talk of it early on in the season when he won over two miles but it's not until you go over and actually see what the Champion Hurdle is that you realise you need a different type of horse for the race nowadays. It's generally fast ground. You need a horse coming from the Flat. This fellow's a National Hunt horse, a relentless galloper through and through," explained Bowe's son Michael, assistant trainer.
However, the father and son team are confident Limestone Lad can go all the way in the Stayers' Hurdle and were particularly impressed by his runner-up placing to Bannow Bay in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. "He's in great order. He gives a different feeling from two years ago. I couldn't be more pleased with him. Limestone Lad had emerged from his clash with Bannow Bay great. He ran a tremendous race. For me, it was one of his best runs," said Bowe junior.
"It was only when I got the time of the race, I realised he probably ran the race of his life. I have to admit that, generally, he takes two days to recover from a race but on this occasion it took him three days. He ran his heart out, you know. It must be heart-breaking for a horse to be just pipped at the post after going out and doing all the donkey work for three miles but he came out of it great, really well," he added.
Meanwhile, Istabraq who will be bidding for a record fourth victory in the hurdling championship, is among 12 Irish-trained entries for the £270,000 event on the opening day of the National Hunt Festival. Ned Kelly, Joe Cullen, Liss A Paoraigh and 2000 Rothmans Royals St Leger third placed Chimes At Midnight, who is so far unraced over hurdles, also feature in the powerful Irish team.
There are two French-trained entries - Guillaume Macaire's Jair Du Cochet and Bilboa from Francois Doumen's stable - as well as the best hurdler in Germany, the eight-year-old San Suru, trained by Mario Hofer.
The domestic interests will be represented by Bula Hurdle winner Valiramix, one of six entries for Martin Pipe, Nicky Henderson's Landing Light, who took the Pertemps Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, and Geos and Regal Exit, Ladbroke Hurdle winner Marble Arch, the well-backed Brother Joe, and 2000 Irish St Leger winner Arctic Owl, who has yet to jump a hurdle in public.
Baracouda heads 48 entries for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle. Along with Limestone Lad, there are nine other entries from Ireland, including Smurfit Champion Hurdle entrant Liss A Paoraigh and Bannow Boy, who beat Limestone Lad in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
