Lad on course for Stayers` bid

Michael Bowe today spelt out his plans for Limestone Lad as the popular hurdler continued his build-up to a tilt at the Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Limestone Lad was among 48 entries unveiled today for the stayers` race at the Festival but Bowe decided against giving the home-bred gelding an entry in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Bowe, assistant trainer to his father James, said: 'He`s in great order. He gives a different feeling from two years ago. I couldn`t be more pleased with him.

'He`s just started doing a nice piece of work at the Curragh on Saturday and he`ll do another piece of work next weekend.

'Then he`ll go to Naas or Leopardstown, depending on ground conditions, on January 26th or 27th.'

The Leopardstown race is the AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle over two miles.

'He needs quite heavy or testing conditions to give him a chance over two miles against the type of horses that are in that, whereas the Naas race is over two and a half miles.

'If ground conditions are reasonably good, that`s probably where he`ll go,' said Bowe.

Limestone Lad had emerged from his clash with Bannow Bay 'great', he added.

'He came out of the race very well. He ran a tremendous race. For me, it was one of his best runs.

'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.'

The Bowe team had decided not to enter Limestone Lad for the Champion Hurdle, even as a precaution.

'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 horsefor 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.

'I wasn`t even going to enter him in the Champion Hurdle in case I was tempted to run him in it. I want to focus on one race and one race only.

'He`s just turned 10 now so that`s one of the other things I have to worry about. The thing is, he doesn`t know he`s getting older. I know - he doesn`t. I definitely won`t tell him,' he said.

Limestone Lad - along with Istabraq - would be one of the most popular winners at the Festival.

'There`s a big crowd of supporters coming over. They`ve got their accommodation booked. He will have a great following certainly. It would be just great if he could win. It would be nicer to back him.

'He`s got a great chance of winning if you take Baracouda and Bannow Bay out of the race. He`s got a tremendous chance of being placed with those two in the race. We need a bit of luck and it will depend on ground conditions too.

'I would imagine Bannow Bay is a better horse on good ground than soft or heavy ground.

'I am looking forward to it,' added Bowe.