New Irish star Limestone Lad could make a return visit to Britain on Grand National day, it emerged today.
Owner/trainer James Bowe is considering a tilt at the Martell Aintree Hurdle with his gelding, who got a hero's reception in the unsaddling enclosure after his second place in the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham last week.
That was his eight-year-old's 12th race of a very busy season in which he has won eight times and only once finished worse than second.
But if the going is not too firm Limestone Lad could be back for Aintree's Grade One event, in which he could renew rivalry with three-time champion hurdler Istabraq, whom he famously beat at Fairyhouse last November.
Bowe's son Michael said this morning: "It is just in the back of our minds that he could go to Aintree, though a lot depends on the ground.
"We are giving it consideration but we don't have to make any decision until the end of the month.
"There is always the Punchestown Festival but that isn't until the first week in May this year and the ground might have firmed up by then.
"Limestone Lad is in tremendous order, he came out of the race brilliantly, better than I did!
"I was exhausted as it was a very long drive and I did more celebrating than the horse did!"
Limestone Lad went down by a length to Bacchanal at Cheltenham last Thursday and Bowe added: "I was thrilled with the horse.
"Some people were disappointed that he didn't win but for us he is always a star and I thought he ran a great race on ground that didn't suit him after being away from home for a few days, which also didn't suit him."
