Racing: Limestone strengthens Ireland's hurdling team

Limestone Lad got back on the winning trail at Navan yesterday to reverse last year's defeat in the Lismullen Hurdle by Liss A Paoraigh and record the 31st victory of his career.

The 10-year-old could be back in action at Naas on Saturday, but it is the return of the Champion Hurdle favourite, Davenport Milenium, at Down Royal the previous day that will be more eagerly anticipated by followers of Irish racing in search of the heir to Istabraq.

"Davenport Milenium really showed what we had thought of him at Punchestown in the spring," his trainer, Willie Mullins, said. "We ran him twice and the second time he really excelled at two miles. The Champion is wide open so we thought we might as well have a crack."

Davenport Milenium could be seen in Britain before March as Mullins said: "There will probably be better ground in England than we have here and I'll probably bring him over in the spring before a run at Cheltenham." William Hill quote Davenport Milenium as 10-1 co-favourite with last year's winner, Hors La Loi III, and fellow Irish hope Ned Kelly for the Champion.

The classy French hurdler Jair Du Cochet, seventh to his compatriot Baracouda in last season's Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, is to have his first taste of British fences tomorrow. Guillaume Macaire has entered the five-year-old at Exeter and Folkestone, with the Kent track the preferred destination.

* Today's Redcar card has been abandoned due to waterlogging.