With NoLimit looks the part in Monksfield victory With NoLimit confirmed himself a smart prospect with victory in the John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan. Gordon Elliott’s five-year-old ended last season with Grade One bumper success at Punchestown and made a winning start over obstacles in a maiden at Down Royal last month. Sent off at 8-13 stepping up to Grade Three level, Jack Kennedy had the Gigginstown-owned gelding straight to the front, with Willie Mullins-trained market rival Reaching High for company in the colours of the King and Queen. Reaching High dropped away at the business end after briefly flattering, and while Gillane threatened at the last, the favourite was strong all the way to the line, winning by four and a quarter lengths. Elliott said: “He was good in Down Royal, but I thought he was way better there. I think he’s a lovely horse and the way he jumps a hurdle he’s one to really look forward to (over fences). “We said we’d keep it simple and obviously Willie’s has a bit of Flat speed. He just has a good attitude, I think he’s quick enough for two miles but we’ll keep him to middle distances I’d imagine at the moment. “I don’t know about heavy ground for him, but the way the world has gone now that might not be a bad thing. I’d imagine it would be Leopardstown (at Christmas) or Naas next.” Paddy Power cut the winner to 16-1 from 25-1 for both the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in March, and Elliott added: “As Jack says, you won’t see the best of this lad until he jumps a fence. You can see the way he jumps his hurdles; he wants a fence. “Obviously, Cheltenham is going to be in the back of our head. I’d imagine we would probably look at something over Christmas or Naas in the new year. He’s had two runs now, so there’s no panic. “I think he would be even better with a lead. He actually ran well in Cheltenham (ninth in Champion Bumper), it just didn’t work out for him on the day.”
