The Cheltenham Festival inches ever closer but there was bad news of undoubtedly our leading challenger with Limestone Lad sidelined by coughing.
Michael Bowe revealed the setback as the final touches were being made for his intended pre-Cheltenham outing in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan. It is now a race against time to get the hugely popular gelding ready for the Stayers Hurdle, and a gallop after racing at Leopardstown on March 2 has been set as a necessary timescale if the dream is to be kept alive.
Navan yesterday hosted probably the last meaningful pieces of the Cheltenham jig-saw on this side of the Irish Sea, and there were a number of notable performances. Willie Mullins has enjoyed a great record at the Cotswolds spectacular in recent years, but may be upstaged by his younger brother Tony this year.
Barrow Drive did his Royal & SunAlliance Chase prospects no harm when landing the Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase at Leopardstown the previous weekend, and stablemates Supreme Developer and McGruders Cross both scored at the County Meath venue.
McGruders Cross looks a genuine contender for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper after making it two wins from as many starts with a convincing front-running victory, while former smart bumper horse Supreme Developer is a possible for the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle after appreciating the better ground to land the maiden hurdle.
Financial incentives also made the news this week, with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) announcing a travel allowance scheme and Punchestown bidding to attract British raiders for their upcoming Festival.
The HRI initiative means that overseas runners finishing out of the money in all Irish Pattern and Listed races under both codes will receive 1,000 euro. The lack of a foreign challenge has certainly been noticeable in recent times considering the major injection to prize-funds, and the recent Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown was a case in point.
Punchestown is offering significant inducements to ensure high profile overseas runners at its four-day Festival meeting beginning on April 29. The counter attraction of Sandown`s end of season fixture, with added prize-money this year, is obviously a major concern to the Punchestown executive and the County Kildare track is putting together a package including free accommodation and travel allowances costing 225,000 euro to boost competition.
The HRI`s five representatives on the new Punchestown board were named this week, with chairman Michael Osborne joined by Brian Kavanagh, Roy Craigie, Mary Moore and current manager Dick O`Sullivan. Tote Ireland also announced additions to it`s board, with former Racing Post editor Alan Byrne being accompanied by economist Paul Tansey and Paddy Waldron, a mathematics professor and regular racegoer.
Alan Magee
