Stone to stay hurdling Stonemaster will stick to hurdling for the rest of the campaign before being switched to fences next season. Trainer Dessie Hughes believes it will be tough this term for the five-year-old and it is better to wait a bit longer before sending him over bigger obstacles. Fourth to Reve De Sivola in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in April, Stonemaster made a pleasing return to action when runner-up to Rigour Back Bob in the Grade Two Tara Hurdle at Navan. "He's come out of the race well, but there wasn't much for him at Leopardstown over Christmas," he said. "He's a second-season horse so he might go to Limerick for a two-mile-and-six hurdle, if it's on. We didn't go over fences with him this season because he's only five so we'll give it a miss. "It won't be easy for him this year but we don't mind. We'll just chip along with him and we'll go over fences with him next season."
