RACING: Limestone's Lad's substitute jockey Barry Geraghty has been told to make his rivals "suffer" as the jumping superstar goes in search of a piece of history at Fairyhouse tomorrow.
In the nine runnings of the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle, only Istabraq (1997-98) and Limestone Lad (1999-01) have managed to win it twice: James Bowe's charge is an odds-on favourite to hold the record on his own.
Yesterday, Bowe's son Michael could hardly contain his enthusiasm for Limestone Lad's chance against just four opponents, headed by the AIG winner Ned Kelly.
"The record book tells us these are his conditons and he always seems to come bang into form at this time of year.
"I couldn't be happier with him. I hope I don't sound cocky or confident but it's just what the horse is telling me. He is bucking and squealing, he is so well. And he seems to be caught in a time-warp age wise," he said.
Such confidence is all too understandable with Ned Kelly's trainer, Edward O'Grady, reporting the next highest contender to be "backward" and Scottish Memories having to find a massive 20lb on the ratings.
But there is also the knowledge that there are likely to be no surprises in the way the race is run.
"We know the tactics the others will use. They will lie off, try to avoid taking us on and then try and do us for speed.
"Charlie Swan is an expert at it. So Barry will need to make the rest of them suffer. If he can do that at the two-mile mark, it'll make the way home a lot easier," Bowe added.
The Hatton's Grace is the centrepiece of a triple Grade One card that highlights the first half of the winter season.
The Pierse Group Drinmore almost invariably throws up a genuine Royal & SunAlliance Chase candidate and the two most obvious going into tomorrow's renewal look to be Barrow Drive and Le Coudray.
Barrow Drive's five-in-a-row hot streak reads a lot better than his big rival who won his first chase only last Saturday.
However, the JP McManus-owned horse has always had a huge weight of expectation hanging around his neck and Cashmans make him a 4 to 5 favourite to win tomorrow.
The best of Le Coudray's hurdles form indicates he could indeed win this Drinmore very impressively and set himself up as a Cheltenham hot-pot.
However, Barrow Drive's jumping and attitude have been almost flawless up to now and his front-running style will find out any chink in Le Coudray's armour.
The Boylesports Royal Bond Novice Hurdle doesn't appear a vintage renewal at first glance but there are some in the race with their potential untapped.
None more so than the unbeaten Friend's Amigo who could start favourite in a field of 10. Noel Meade gives Rosaker, a double winner from eight starts in the Middle East, a run and Back In Front has his own first start over hurdles.
Dermot Weld's Mutakarrim is comparatively well-exposed but the ground may not be soft enough yet to blunt the flat speed he showed so effectively at Cheltenham last time.
Leinster, owned by Cathal Ryan, brings a substantial reputation to his hurdling debut but will do well to get the better of the Cork winner Mullacash in the maiden hurdle.
