Limestone Lad Hurdle horse-by-horse guide and trainer quotes

Get trainer quotes plus our horse-by-horse guide to Sunday's Grade Three Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas.

Preview & trainer quotes

Gavin Cromwell expects to learn more about Espoir D'Allen's potential ambitions after he runs in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.

The son of Voix Du Nord was the star juvenile hurdler in Ireland in the first half of last season, winning his first four starts before disappointing at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

Espoir D'Allen missed the rest of the campaign, but has returned seemingly better than ever this term - winning Grade Three prizes at Naas and Limerick respectively - and he will likely be a warm order to complete his hat-trick this weekend.

Cromwell said: "He has a penalty to carry, and it will be his first time going up against older horses, so that is a little bit of an unknown.

"But he seems in good nick at home, and Sunday will tell us more about where we're going with him."

Espoir D'Allen is a best-priced 25-1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, a race for which his owner JP McManus also has the ante-post favourite in dual winner Buveur D'Air.

Cromwell added: "We're just taking it one step at a time.

"The owner obviously has Buveur D'Air. He does have a Champion Hurdle entry, but we'll see what happens on Sunday before we start thinking about that."

Espoir D'Allen concedes 7lb to each of his four rivals, including a former winner of the Punchestown Champion Hurdle and the Irish St Leger in the Willie Mullins-trained Wicklow Brave.

Gordon Elliott is hoping for a bold show from Tombstone, who outran his huge odds when third behind Sharjah in the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

"He ran a cracker last time and he's been in good form since that run," said Elliott.

"At the weights he doesn't look badly treated, and I hope he can run to the level of form he did at Leopardstown - although I'd say Gavin's horse will be hard to beat."

Jessica Harrington's mare Forge Meadow and Jarob from Gearoid O'Loughlin's yard are the other contenders.

Horse-by-horse guide

Espoir D'Allen

Described as a "horse for next year" by his trainer when slamming Stormy Island by eight lengths conceding 9lb, but has been given a Champion Hurdle entry and if he wins well once more will surely take it up. Only met defeat once so far, a year ago, but has been firmly back on track since winning on his reappearance here. That record also means he's unbeaten in this grade (2-2) and while stepping into open company for the first time, he does so with conditions in his favour and against horses who are exposed. Turn of foot a potent weapon and one we should see to winning effect.

Forge Meadow

Neck second in this last year when sent off 9/4 favourite, but this is a decidedly stronger renewal and she's up against it on the back of a tame return to hurdles last time. Could make the running but she'll be vulnerable when things get serious.

Jarob

Comfortably the lowest-rated of these, 12 years old and last seen running in a cross-country chase.

Tombstone

Solid mid-140s performer over both fences and hurdles and interesting to see him tried back in Grade One company again over Christmas. Ease in class here will help matters but fairly exposed in level-stakes events and could be better suited by handicaps a little later in the campaign.

Wicklow Brave

Fantastic dual-purpose horse, winner of a Group One on the level and a Grade One over Hurdles as his career prize money edges towards the million-pound mark. More recently, however, his success has come in much calmer waters and while this is markedly easier than when behind Apple's Jade and Sharjah earlier in the season, he's nonetheless vulnerable to a classy, younger horse. First time at Naas and it's two years since he won something roughly equivalent to this, but does come out best on the figures and is expected to run his race in defeat.

Verdict

This used to be a nice stepping stone to the Stayers' Hurdle when run over further, but now back to the minimum trip it could yet unearth a strong Champion Hurdle candidate in Espoir D'Allen. He's looked very good on both starts this season and two miles on decent ground looks ideal for a strong traveller with a serious turn of foot.

So far, Gavin Cromwell's horse has raced against those in his age group but with Tombstone and Wicklow Brave heading the opposition here, his first step into open company ought to be a successful one.

Tombstone might be interesting in a handicap chase at one of the spring festivals but for now looks the chief danger after a good run behind Sharjah. He holds Wicklow Brave on their earlier meeting and can fill the forecast spot.