Crock of gold at the end of the Rainbow
Nolan sent three charges to the start, including the champion and red hot 2/1 favourite Cloone River, as well as his Cheltenham stars Accordion Etoile and Dabiroun, but the stable's pre-race optimism was shattered by a "pearler" of a fall to the market leader.
Meade had been mob-handed in a race he won twice early in his career with Pinch Hitter and finished second on several other occasions since, but even if More Rainbows was not the best supported of his four runners, it did not deter traditionally ribald celebrations in the winner's enclosure.
As the crowds once more thronged every enclosure and the bookies rubbed their hands after what was another record betting day in Galway (made even better by a 33/1 winner of the big race), the ever sanguine Meath handler recalled what had been "one of the greatest day's of my life" when he first won the race, but he also made it clear that this was one he'd remember for a long time too.
In truth, after the Guinness sponsored feature, there was a widespread sense that Meade himself may have nicked a result here.
Even though More Rainbows was tipped on the race card, he had few friends in the betting ring, as reflected by his starting price, but none of the connections were going to turn their nose up at the outcome. And neither were the joyous bookies.
Piloted by Niall 'Slippers' Madden, the horse had an eventful race and, as Meade confessed, he thought their chance had gone when another of his runners, Definate Spectacle suffered a crashing fall two from home.
"I thought we were gone when the other fellow went down, but I couldn't believe how well More Rainbows came up the hill. Magic. We knew he liked quicker ground and we decided to ride him closer to the pace this time around than we had done before and it worked out."
If Meade had a faller two out, then Nolan's hopes not to mention the majority of the punters here had gone up in smoke at the previous fence when Cloone River tipped hind over hock.
"That was a terrible fall," Nolan recounted. "That was a pearler. He was flying and we were right in with a chance, but he just dived at the hurdle and his momentum carried him end over end. He could have killed himself and he could have killed the jockey too."
Nolan, who nearly had heart failure after chasing Cloone River along the inside running rail last year, did not need any medical assistance this time, but both his horse and jockey did.
"The horse will be very sore, but at least we've a horse to bring home. John Cullen too is badly bruised and I expect he won't be riding for a day or two," Nolan reported.
His suspicions were confirmed by Turf Club medical chief Dr Walter Halley, who said that Cullen was being stood down for 24 hours and will miss today's meeting.
The winning syndicate, based in the Meath villages of Dunshaughlin and Drumree, near Meade's yard, will now look to other prizes for their hero and the trainer is even predicting a couple of cross-channel trips for him in the not too distant future.
For the moment, however, he is simply grateful that the basic certainty of racing that there are no certainties worked out in his favour in a race which will always remain "very dear" to his heart.
And undoubtedly dear to the heart of the bookies too.
