Meade’s relief palpable as Nicanor doubles his Festival tally

A NATION rose to acclaim Noel Meade at Cheltenham yesterday, after his Nicanor had produced a scintillating performance to beat Denman in the Royal and SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle, writes Pat Keane.

Meade has suffered so much heartbreak at this meeting over many years, but this future Gold Cup prospect will have washed away an enormous amount of the pain.

Meade admitted to drinking “the best part of a bottle of gin” on Tuesday, after watching Sweet Wake trail in a well-beaten fifth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.