Limestone to sidestep Punchestown date

Limestone Lad will not defend his Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle crown at the Punchestown Festival on Thursday…

Limestone Lad will not defend his Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle crown at the Punchestown Festival on Thursday.

Connections of the popular Irish 11-year-old have opted to call it a day for the season following his brave third to Baracouda and Iris's Gift in the Cheltenham equivalent last month.

Michael Bowe, assistant trainer to his father James, said: "We worked Limestone Lad on grass recently and he wasn't really letting himself down on the ground.

"Call it instinct, but I just wasn't that happy with him. Although he is physically fine, he just seems a bit off-colour.

READ MORE

"It would have been nice to go back to Punchestown and try to win the race for the second year running, but he's going to have a long break now and we'll give him the same sort of campaign next season."