Limestone Lad is set to put his unbeaten record over fences on the line at a revamped Punchestown on Sunday.
Following the problems with drains at the last Punchestown fixture the normal finishing straight will not be raced upon this weekend.
Instead the finishing line will be the mid-track strip that is normally used during the winter to start the two-mile hurdle races.
'That will be the only visible sign of change from the grandstand,' said Punchestown`s racing director Richie Galway yesterday. 'There will be one fence in the straight and another after the new finishing line and they will be the same fences we use elsewhere.'
The changes have been put in place following the problems with the drains that caused the abandonment of racing last month.
Limestone Lad had an eyeful of the new-look track yesterday, and Galway confirmed: 'Michael (Bowe, the trainer) wanted the horse to see the place before the weekend.'
The Grade Three Irish Field Novice Chase will be Limestone Lad`s third start over fences after two impressive victories at Cork, and Bowe declared yesterday: 'He`s looking meaner and leaner - that`s when he`s at his most dangerous.' Bowe added: 'He`s definitely not the big, burly horse people saw the first day at Cork. He`s just coming into form now, which is normal because he usually takes two or three runs to come to his best. But he`s in tremendous form and I couldn`t be happier with him.'
Bowe said he had no long-term plan for Limestone Lad but did report the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse as a likely target, followed by a race over Christmas.
'He`s very well in himself for this Sunday and I just hope it doesn`t rain too much between now and then. Hopefully the alterations to the track won`t be an inconvenience either,' he said.
Today`s focus is on Clonmel where both the former champion jockey, Charlie Swan, and the current title holder, Barry Geraghty, can be on the double.
Swan is currently onthe 25winner mark for the season and again takes the mount on Willie Mullins`s Catch Ball in the handicap hurdle. Twice at Fairyhouse recently Catch Ball has won easily, and the handicapper doesn`t look to be winning the battle just yet. Swan also takes the ride Summer Break, who makes her hurdling debut in the opener. Rated 75 on the flat, Summer Break was conceding weight to Archimedes when just beaten at Down Royal, and if even jumping just adequately should be hard to beat here.
Geraghty is on 30 for the season after a double at Galway on Monday, a feat he can equal on McCracken in the novice hurdle and No Messin` in the beginners` chase; and Kevin O`Ryan can land the bumper on Insan Lady.
Meanwhile, Bernstein, the Aidan O`Brien-trained double Group Three winner, is set to take up stud duties in Kentucky after running at Churchill Downs this weekend.
Reports in America indicate the Storm Cat colt will stand at a $10,000 fee at the Buck Pond Farm in Kentucky for the 2001 season. Bernstein is unlikely to make the Breeders` Cup Mile field but could have a consolation opportunity in the Grade Three River City Handicap on Sunday.
Bernstein won the Railway Stakes last year and scored in the Cork`s Concorde Stakes last month.
