Gallant Lad fails to fulfil hopes of a nation

THE utter disappointment was visibly etched across Michael Bowe’s well-worn features.

He had just watched, almost disbelievingly, his beloved Limestone Lad fail to fulfil the hopes of a nation as the mighty 11-year-old, with 35 victories to his credit, could only finish third behind the great Baracouda and the up-and-coming Iris’s Gift in the Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle.

Limestone Lad ran his heart out, but the brutal truth is that he just wasn’t up to the task when the serious questions were posed.