Limini nearing return Cheltenham Festival heroine Limini is closing in on a return to the track, according to jockey Ruby Walsh. The Susannah and Rich Ricci-owned six-year-old was considered as one of the bankers of the entire meeting last March by many and duly delivered for odds-on backers in the inaugural running of the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle. She was unable to follow up against the boys at Aintree's Grand National meeting, finishing third behind the high-class [pair of Buveur D'Air and Petit Mouchoir in the Top Novices' Hurdle. The French recruit also suffered defeat on her final start of the campaign in the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown and has not been seen in competitive action since. "She looks to be coming back to herself," Walsh told Racing UK. "She won the mares' novice hurdle well but things went a bit wrong for her at Aintree when Buveur D'Air beat her and then at Punchestown she just didn't jump great. "She seems to be in good form and Willie (Mullins) is delighted with her, so fingers crossed we can get her to the track soon." Limini is a 7-1 shot to claim Festival gold for a second time in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle back at Cheltenham in March, a race Mullins has won for the last eight years.
