Cracking clash in Limestone Lad as Beacon Edge and Bachasson go head to head

1.15 Naas
Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 3) | 1m7½f, 5yo+ | RTV

The ill-fated Espoir D'Allen landed this Grade 3 on his way to plundering the 2019 Champion Hurdle, and half of Sunday's six-strong field hold entries for the festival highlight.

It looks unlikely we will see the same double achieved this time around, with the trio of entries available at 80-1, 100-1 and 200-1 for the Unibet-backed championship, but the most obvious starting point is the talented Beacon Edge.

He comes here on the back of his best showing yet when third and only beaten three-quarters of a length by Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, with his mark of 154 making him the highest-rated runner in the line-up.

Beacon Edge encountered a colic issue on the day he was declared to run in the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, a race he missed while recovering, but is reportedly fine now.

Bachasson: made it three wins on the bounce at Punchestown on New Year's EveCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The likeable seven-year-old, who has yet to finish out of the first four in his career, has always shown a high level of ability, but it could prove a tough task giving 7lb to the in-form Bachasson, a rival rated only 6lb inferior and arriving here seeking a fourth win in succession.

The versatile ten-year-old is a highly effective hurdler and chaser, arguably better in the latter discipline over further, but he relishes testing ground and the stiff finish at Naas will play to his strengths.

Coeur Sublime is a high-class operator on his day, but he's a tad inconsistent and wrong at the weights with the leading players here.

He likely needs better ground to show the best version of himself, whereas the Gordon Elliott-trained Grand Roi proved himself in these conditions when winning at Limerick over Christmas.

Grand Roi: ready winner at Limerick last month

This looks a more demanding assignment and he will need to up his game, for all that he is open to improvement.

Poseidon, representing Charles Byrnes, is hard to fancy on ratings, while US raider Winston C, a two-time Grade 1 winner across the Atlantic, is surely more effective on a sounder surface and has not been seen for 500 days.

What they say

Gearoid O'Loughlin, trainer of Coeur Sublime
He didn't run his race at Christmas but thankfully there was an excuse, he had a bad lung wash afterwards. We're keeping an eye on the weather, but hopefully he can bounce back if he takes his chance.

Noel Meade, trainer of Beacon Edge
He seems fine and we've been happy with him for the past couple of weeks. We opted to come here rather than go to the Irish Champion Hurdle. It looked a lesser option and we'll see where we stand after this. I think he'll have enough pace for it.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Grand Roi
He has a bit to find on ratings but seems in good form. After what he did at Limerick, you'd imagine he'll handle the ground, but it's not a bad race.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Bachasson
He's won twice this season and, while it's a tough assignment coming back in trip, ratings wise he has a chance in a hot little race. If he was in the first three it would be a good achievement for him. I just hope conditions might bring his stamina into play.

Keri Brion, trainer of Winston C
Of all of the horses we've brought over here, he's probably the one that could be best on better ground. It's a bit of a concern, but he has some form on soft to heavy from his time in England. He goes well on the beach, is in good form and is probably the toughest horse we have here.

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