Limestone Lad back on course for Cheltenham
Michael Bowe, son of trainer James, was satisfied with the 11-year-old's gallop after he made a speedy recovery from the illness he picked up 13 days ago.
"He went very well and I'm very happy with him," said Bowe.
"He did a nice piece of work, came back and had a pick of grass in the field.
"He's showing no ill-effects, came back in a good mood and so did I!"
Bowe has the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham firmly in his sights for Limestone Lad, who is set to be joined at the Festival by stablemate Solerina.
The six-year-old mare has six consecutive wins to her credit this season including the Grade One Deloitte and Touche Novices' Hurdle on her last outing.
Solerina is set to contest the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and Bowe is pleased with her condition.
"She's also very well in herself and I'm happy with her," he added.
"Both are healthy and well and hopefully they will get to Cheltenham."
Meanwhile, trainer Tony Martin is still considering an appeal against Davids Lad's 42-day suspension incurred at Naas on Sunday.
The nine-year-old was banned from running until April 6 by the stewards, who ruled that the racecourse had been used as a training ground as the horse trailed in last under Timmy Murphy in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase.
The ban rules him out of the Cheltenham Festival, where he could have contested the Mildmay Of Flete Chase, and the Martell Cognac Grand National for which he was general second favourite.
Martin was also given a €1,000 fine and Murphy suspended for seven days.
Martin plans to speak to owners the Eddie Joe's Racing Syndicate before deciding about an appeal.
Murphy believes the decision of the Naas officials was harsh given the horse's performance.
"I'm very disappointed. I can see the stewards' point of view looking at the race," he told attheraces.
"It didn't look as if I was making a lot of effort on him but every time I've ridden the horse I've ridden him exactly the same.
"He's the sort of horse that's got a wind problem. The trip was probably too short for him and the ground was a bit dead.
"The harder I'd ridden the horse early on I'd have ended up pulling him up because he'd have choked in his wind. Any time I've won on him I've ridden him like that, just hanging on to him and he comes into the race himself. Yesterday that didn't happen so it obviously looked bad.
"But the horse was out to run his best race and I was told going out 'be as close as you can but make sure he improves for the run', so I just thought we were a bit hard done by.
"If I'd have knocked him around I'd maybe have finished a few lengths closer. He was the outsider of the field he wasn't odds-on favourite or anything.
"We rode him so hopefully he'd improve again. He's a stuffy horse and these horses can only do so much at home and you have to get a run into him somewhere. He's so high in the handicap that there's not many races for him."
Murphy was not only concerned about himself missing out but also those who have backed Davids Lad and the owners themselves.
"A lot of punters have backed him for the National and there's been a lot of big bets. It's really not fair on them," he added.
"There's only one National and it's not as if you can come back every year. You only get one crack at it.
"He's been trained for Cheltenham and then hopefully the National. The way he ran last year he'd have a realistic chance of winning the Grand National so it's devastating for the owners from their point of view."
Bookmakers Paddy Power are offering odds about whether Martin's charge will be allowed to run at Aintree . Power offer 4-7 about Davids Lad being able to run after an appeal and 5-4 that he will be banned after an appeal. They also offer the horse as 10-1 favourite with a run for the Aintree spectacular.
