Limestone Lad is approaching his peak for Sunday's clash with Ned Kelly at Fairyhouse and one result is that the tantalising prospect of a tilt at the Smurfit Champion Hurdle has not been ruled out for the James Bowe-owned and trained star.
The top stayer is a 13 to 8 favourite with Paddy Power to repeat his 1999 success in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle and the man closest to Limestone Lad is happy the horse is close to the sort of form that saw him beat Istabraq in the Fairyhouse highlight to years ago.
"It's always a battle of the bulge with this horse for the first couple of months, but once he is fit it's just a case of keeping him ticking over and he's pretty much at his peak now," Michael Bowe said yesterday.
"If he is as good on Sunday as he was two years ago, or any thing like it, he probably should win. I hope cuteness or old age isn't catching up but he appears the same horse and, who knows, maybe he will be even better now," he added.
If that is the case, it may put more flesh on the bones of a Cheltenham plan B that Bowe is reluctant to rule out at this stage of the season. The Stayers' Hurdle is still Limestone Lad's most likely festival target but Istabraq's progress means his old foe will be kept among the Champion entries.
"It's worth the entry fee anyway," Bowe said. "Istabraq still has to come out at Christmas and if things weren't rosy with him, and there was cut in the ground, it would leave a gap in the Champion Hurdle.
"Unfortunately there was soft ground last season when Cheltenham wasn't on and it was annoying to miss out. Hopefully the ground might be soft again this time," he added.
Other Hatton's Grace news yesterday was the booking of Tony McCoy for Liss A Paoraigh as the John Kiely-trained mare tries to repeat her Navan defeat of Limestone Lad.
"She is in great form and Tony will make the trip over especially for the race. It will be a very competitive contest but she's done very well since Navan and we're hopeful she will give a good account of herself," Kiely said yesterday.
McCoy's booking was enough for Liss A Paoraigh's price to be cut with Powers yesterday from 4 to 1 to 7 to 2.
