RACING: Limestone Lad will try to maintain his 100 per cent record in handicap hurdles next Saturday on the back of a typically gutsy success at Navan yesterday.

The popular veteran recorded the 31st victory of his career when making all to beat his old rival Liss A Paoraigh by two lengths in the Lismullen Hurdle.

The punters got stuck into Limestone Lad and returned him a 4 to 5 favourite which must have surprised his trainer Michael Bowe.

"I expected him to be beaten today but he must be getting better with age," said Bowe who is keen to target his star at Saturday's Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle.

Limestone Lad is unbeaten in nine previous starts in handicap company and Paul Carberry is confident there is no sign of the horse's prowess waning.

"He was a bit stuffy but jumped quick and he seems as good as ever," the jockey said.

Liss A Paoraigh had beaten Limestone Lad in last year's Lismullen but did enough yesterday for trainer John Kiely to indicate she will be kept to hurdles.

The beginners chase would have been enough to convince anyone of the wisdom of that as eight of the 18 runners exited over the first three fences. Three of them went at the first, one at the second and a remarkable four horses exited at the third fence. As if that wasn't bad enough the 7 to 4 favourite, Over The Bar, made a horrible mistake at the last ditch when in the lead and was pulled up.

In the end, Goldstreet managed to win the race and complete a double for Shay Barry who had won the opener on Cheeky Lady.

Alcapone's form tailed off towards the end of last season but work on his back has made him a "different, happier horse this year" according to trainer Mouse Morris. He showed how happy by making all under Barry Geraghty to win the Fortria Chase. The warm favourite, Knife Edge, faded in the straight.

Geraghty had earlier picked up the three-mile handicap hurdle on Anvil Lord and Keith Hadnett had his first winner since returning from injury on Native Sparkle in the Grade Three novice hurdle.