Noel Meade ended a 50-day winner drought with a 17/1 double at Punchestown on Wednesday, much to the relief of those punters who have backed his Cheltenham hopefuls Muirhead and Harchibald ante post.
Ireland’s champion trainer had sent out 54 runners without a winner and had even shut his yard down for just over a week, so this was a welcome return to form with Cheltenham less than three weeks away. After Clarnazar had won the opening conditions hurdle, the double was completed by Jered who absolutely dotted up in the 2m novice hurdle, and both could be Cheltenham-bound, bidding to emulate the trainer’s previous Festival winners, Nicanor (Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle) and Sausolito Bay (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle).
According to Meade, Clarnazar ideally wants three miles, but could run in the Coral Cup over 2m5f depending on how well he’s handicapped, while Jered may now head for the Supreme Novices’, for which he’s best-priced 25/1 with William Hill. The six-year-old will certainly appreciate the strong pace he is likely to get at Cheltenham. but whether he has the necessary class to be a contender is debatable, particularly as he was well and truly put in his place by stablemate Muirhead in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December. In fact, with Meade back amongst the winners, it would be no surprise to see some support behind Muirhead’s Festival bid - currently a best-priced 10/1 with Totesport, but as low as 7/1 with Boylesports. Could he be the ‘Irish banker’ in the opening race?
Meade’s other festival contenders include the enigmatic but talented Harchibald, who is as low as 7/1 with bet365 for the Champion Hurdle, but 9’s with Totesport. He could be joined by Jazz Messenger (66/1 sportingbet), and Aitmatov, although the latter is more likely to run in the World Hurdle over 3m, for which he gets a 25/1 quote from Ladbrokes. In the Triumph Hurdle, Silverhand is a best-priced 33/1 shot (Stan James) after winning his only start at Punchestown in October, while Parsons Pistol is a 25/1 chance with bet365 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over 3m.