Lad a possibility for Champion Hurdle

Limestone Lad remains a possible for the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown following a racecourse gallop at Gowran Park today.

Connections are considering the €130,000 event on Sunday week for the 11-year-old winner of 35 races, as well as the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle a day earlier at Naas. Limestone Lad has won that two-and-a-half mile event for the last three years.

“It’s a choice now between the AIG or Naas. He’s in great nick, he’s a bull of a horse and better than ever this year,” said trainer James Bowe’s son Michael today.

“I’d be tempted by the AIG even though it’s only two miles because he can maintain such a gallop.

“We won’t make any decision until nearer the day.”

If Limestone Lad runs at Naas, the Bowe family would send Solerina for the AIG, but otherwise she would stick to novice company for the time being.

Both horses were in separate workouts at Gowran Park today.

Limestone Lad, with Michael Bowe in the saddle, went two miles on the flat upsides stable companion Florida Coast, who will make his debut over hurdles at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Solerina was about half a furlong behind with another stable companion in a gentler workout.

Another AIG hopeful, Davenport Milenium, in the hands of Willie Mullins’ stable amateur James Nash, worked with two stablemates over one mile six furlongs.

“James was happy with that but feels it was needed before the AIG, so we’ll bring him away again next week somewhere for another piece of work,” said Mullins.

The racecourse gallops were part of the celebrations at the unveiling of a new 3.5million euro grandstand at Gowran in advance of their big meeting next Thursday which features the Thyestes Chase.