Geraghty just the lad for Limestone
“We are delighted to get him, said Michael Bowe yesterday.
Bowe was left with the problem of finding a replacement for Limestone Lad’s regular partner, Paul Carberry, after he was claimed to ride Scottish Memories for Noel Meade.
Geraghty, however, is not unfamiliar with the 11-year-old, having successfuly stood in for Carberry in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Limestone Lad delighted Bowe, who rode him, in a gallop yesterday morning. “He worked on his own and worked great, he’s in excellent order,” reported Bowe. “We are going to Leopardstown for a day out and expecting nothing!”
Cashmans reported the front three in their AIG betting, Intersky Falcon, Limestone Lad and Davenport Milenium as “friendless” in the market.
“We have laid three horses,” reported Paul Cashman. “Scottish Memories has been strong, each-way, from 12-1 to 8’s, there has been money for Liss A Paoraigh, at 16-1 and 12-1 to 9’s, and we laid Like-A-Butterfly really well from 5-1 to 7-2.
Cashmans bet: 2-1 Intersky Falcon, 3-1 Limestone Lad, 7-2 (from 11-4) Davenport Milenium, Like-A-Butterfly, 8-1 Scottish Memories, 9-1 Liss A Paoraigh, 18-1 bar
Meanwhile, Mouse Morris is still considering his options for chaser Foxchapel King ahead of two possible engagements for the 10-year-old this week. The trainer could ask the gelding to carry top-weight in tomorrow’s 75,000 Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.
But Morris admitted yesterday that the prospect of very testing conditions may tempt him to look instead at Saturday’s Pillar Properties Chase at Cheltenham for his charge.
“I won’t be making my mind up until I have to declare him,” he said today.
“He is booked to go out (to the UK) if that’s where we decide to go but I will see what the weather does.
“If it rains any more it is going to be a real test at Gowran.”
After this week, Morris is planning a campaign for Foxchapel King that will culminate in the Martell Grand National at Aintree.
“I have always thought of him as a National horse,” he explained.
“He jumps and stays and I would have no worries sending him there.
“If he runs at the Cheltenham Festival before it might be in the William Hill Handicap Chase but we will have to see.”
Cashmans betting on other big weekend races:
Great Yorkshire Chase - Doncaster - Saturday: 3/1 Barryscourt Lad, 8/1 Joss Naylor, 8/1 La Landiere.
Baileys Irish Arkle Chase - Leopardstown - Sunday: 6/4 Bust Out, 5/1 Jurado Express, 11/2 Native Scout.
Pillar Chase - Cheltenham - Saturday: 11/4 Bacchanal, 100/30 Ballyhenry, 11/2 Cyfor Malta.
