Limestone Lad could be a surprise runner in the Powers Gold Cup Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday. James Bowe's nine-year-old finished a six-and-a-half-length third behind Bannow Bay in the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Thursday after an interrupted preparation.

Michael Bowe, the owner-trainer's son, said: "I have entered him in the Powers Gold Cup and he will have a pop over fences during the week.

"If I like the way he schools I will run him on Saturday. Why not? It's the end of the season.

"He is in good form and he came out of his hurdle race very well."

Michael Kinane and Johnny Murtagh will be in action in Rome today, where both have rides in the Italian 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas. Kinane (Tesoretta) and Murtagh (Sopran Dansart) partner local outsiders in the fillies' classic, the Group Two Premio Regina Elena.

Clive Brittain's Zaheemah, the Nell Gwyn Stakes second, will be one of the leading contenders in the race, with Frankie Dettori taking the ride.

Change Over (Kinane) and Learson (Murtagh) are hard to fancy in the 2,000 Guineas, the Group Two Premio Parioli. But there is a strong English challenge for the classic, with the Coventry Stakes first and second, CD Europe (S Drowne) and Bram Stoker (Dane O'Neill), in action as well as the Sean Wooods-trained Cauvery (Dettori).

Woods also runs Lucayan Chief in the Premio Botticelli, in which Murtagh partners the fancied Alburno.

The three five-furlong races at the two-day Tipperary meeting which starts tomorrow have been abandoned after the Inspector of Courses found there were false patches on the sprint track. Other races will be divided each day to make up seven-race cards.

Starting stalls will not be in operation at the meeting because of heavy ground.

Paul Carberry and Curragh trainer Michael Halford both recorded doubles as the evening racing circuit got off to a flying start at Sligo yesterday.

The pair teamed up to take the opening Coolera Maiden Hurdle with the well-backed 8 to 11 favourite Class Society.

Carberry was at his confident best when doubling up aboard the Tony Martin-trained Finians Ivy in the Carraroe Handicap Hurdle.

Ballymote, owned like Class Society by Dundalk businessman Michael Woods, provided Halford with "a pleasant surprise" when making all under Fran Berry in the Harrys Bar Handicap.