Limestone Lad booked his ticket to Cheltenham for the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle by running away with the McCabe Builders Ltd Boyne Hurdle at Navan today.
Despite carrying 12st in testing ground and not having run since the end of January, Limestone Lad and Shane McGovern dominated throughout the three-mile event to beat last year's winner Sallie's Girl by 20 lengths with Dorans Pride 13 lengths further adrift in third.
Now the winner of 18 races, Limestone Lad was sent off the 2-7 favourite and after dictating the pace throughout fairly sprinted up the climb to the post when McGovern allowed him to stretch going to the last.
'I wanted to pick the best of the ground and not to put him under pressure because he had a little break since his last win at Naas,' said McGovern.
'He enjoyed himself and seems as good as ever, jumping quickly and accurately when I wanted him to.'
Owner, trainer and breeder Jim Bowe has kept the horse in top form despite 11 runs this campaign and said only fast ground would rule out the horse making his English debut at Cheltenham.
'He is very fresh and loves his job. We are hoping for cut in the ground at Cheltenham because he seems to be at his best when it is soft,' said Bowe.
Dorans Pride was second for most of the way until tiring between the last two hurdles and his trainer Michael Hourigan has made up his mind now about the horse's Cheltenham target.
'That rules Dorans Pride out of the Stayers' Hurdle and he will run in the Gold Cup instead,' said the Limerick trainer.
Another impressive, wide-margin winner under top weight was Francines-Boy in the Navan Supporters Hurdle.
Even though Paul Moloney's mount proved much too good for the disappointing favourite Wild Arms, the 2-1 chance will miss the Cheltenham Festival in favour of a possible trip to Liverpool.
His trainer Christy Roche explained: 'We might bring him to Aintree as I have Young American and High Stakes as possible runners in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.' -PA
