Limestone Lad will not race over fences this season after it was confirmed yesterday that the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham is his major target.
Michael Bowe, son of permit holder James, had previously not ruled out a return to steeplechasing at Christmas for Limestone Lad but he is happy to do so now.
"I did say we might mix it if there weren't enough races to keep him busy, but there seem to be plenty of good conditions hurdles around. He's happy doing that so why change and with the Stayers' Hurdle the long-term target, it would be wrong to put him over fences," Bowe said yesterday.
Limestone Lad defeated Ned Kelly on unfavourable terms in the Morgiana last weekend and is favourite to repeat that in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle in 10 days time.
Nevertheless, a dramatic switch to a Smurfit Champion Hurdle preparation is not being considered.
"It was suggested to me after the last day but he is not a Champion Hurdle horse. That's a fast two miles on good ground and it's more suited now to flat breds. Our horse is a class stayer," Bowe added.
"My only worry with the Hatton's Grace is that there is no race for him this weekend. He is a horse that likes to be kept busy and he was getting into a good routine there with a race every weekend.
"But he has thrived since Punchestown and is in tremendous order," he said.
The feature at Cork this afternoon is the novice chase where three Drinmore Chase entries face up to the impressive four-year-old Golden Storm.
The Navan winner gets as much as 12lb from the course winner Get It Done and also thrown into the equation are the Gowran scorer Hot Stuff as well as Oa Baldixe, who started a hot favourite for Get It Done's race here only to fall.
It's an ultra-impressive line-up, but the allowances received by Golden Storm, as well as the obvious toughness of the younger animal, should make him hard to beat.
Paul Carberry may be out of luck on Oa Baldixe but he looks the ideal partner for Wilton Bridge who makes the long journey south from Tony Martin's yard for the two-mile handicap chase.
Wilton Bridge has been upped 9lb for his half length defeat of Be Home Early at Punchestown last time but the bare form only tells half the story.
Wilton Bridge made a series of blunders that Adrian Maguire did well to survive and still turned into the straight on a tight rein.
Presumably the horse has been schooled extensively since and the handicapper may not have caught up yet.
Carberry could also be on the mark with Fruit Defendu, fourth to Best Wait at Limerick last time, in the two-mile conditions hurdle.
Hedgehunter ran Goss to five lengths at Punchestown recently and the first division of the maiden hurdle looks a good chance for him to halt a frustrating run of second places.
