Limestone Lad recorded his 31st career win when making all under Paul Carberry in the Philips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle at Navan this afternoon, writes Alan Magee.
The hugely popular gelding was challenged by Liss A Paoraigh early in the straight, but responded strongly when asked for an effort between the final two flights to score by two lengths - the pair stretching 25 lengths clear of the remainder.
`He`s getting better with age!` quipped Michael Bowe before confirming that the ten-year-old will be campaigned aggressively again this season with the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas on Saturday next on the agenda.
Native Sparkle capped a memorable weekend for Nenagh handler Tom Hogan when also successfully adopting front-running tactics in the Grade 3 Scafhire For Auction Novice Hurdle. The five-year-old mare made all under leading claimer Keith Hadnett, partnering his first winner since breaking his jaw in August, staying on gamely to beat Nonchalant by five lengths.
Hogan, who enjoyed another big race win with juvenile hurdler Newtown Dancer at Wetherby yesterday, said `The plan was to test the rest of them for stamina, and I`m delighted to get black type for her. She wants further, and may come back here for the Monksfield Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles in a fortnight.`
Alcapone completed a hat-trick for pace-setters in the feature races when taking the McCabe Properties Fortria Chase under Barry Geraghty. `He jumped super, and seems a happier horse this season having been treated for a back problem,` said trainer Mouse Morris.
Alan Magee
