David Casey will miss the lucrative week of racing after Christmas when picking up a seven days suspension at Navan on Saturday.
The stewards judged that Casey made 'insufficient effort' aboard His Song, who was quickly tailed off and finished last of the four runners behind Limestone Lad in the Navan Racecourse & Golf Course Hurdle. Casey's ban starts on St Stephen's Day, while the horse was also suspended for 42 days and trainer Mouse Morris fined #500 for using the racecourse as a training ground.
Limestone Lad easily justified odds off 2/11 in the two and a half miles event, adopting his customary front-running role under Paul Carberry for an easy three and a half lengths margin over Catch Ball.
'He enjoyed that, and so did I as there was not as much pressure on today as there was for the Hattons Grace at Fairyhouse,' said Michael Bowe, who confimed the Woodys DIY Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown is next on the agenda. He remains unchanged at 7/2 with Cashmans for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Carberry was completing a quick double having also partnered Woodenbridge Natif to a convincing win in the opening Christmas Racing To Please You Handicap Chase. Noel Meade's charge was well-backed from 2/1 to 6/4 favourite, and his task was somewhat eased by the early fall of Take Five with rider Conor O'Dwyer fracturing his right collar-bone.
Charlie Swan also partnered a double aboard the J P McManus-owned pair Anxious Moments and Over The Bar. The latter heads next for the Slaney Hurdle at Naas (January 6) after holding on by a diminishing neck from Pietro Vannucci in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle.
Alan Magee
