Aran plans hinge on Deloitte test
The highly-regarded six-year-old is favourite for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs but also figures prominently in the betting for the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles.
But with Saturday’s race taking place over two miles, two furlongs, Meade thinks it will give him a big pointer to the gelding’s Festival target.
“He had a spin round Punchestown after racing with Harchibald on Sunday and everything seems to going well,” said Meade.
“The Deloitte on Saturday is over two-mile-two so it will give us an idea as to which way we will go with him at Cheltenham.
“We should know whether to head for the two-mile-five-furlong race or come back to two miles.
“We are just going on what he has been doing at home and he certainly shows us plenty of speed.
“It looks like the Supreme could be the weaker of the two but there is a lot of water to pass under the bridge between now and then – there is no such thing as an easy race at Cheltenham,” said the County Meath handler.
Aran Concerto is 8-1 with William Hill for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and 11-4 with the same firm for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle.
Meade won the latter last year with Nicanor, who is making good progress from a season-ending injury.
“His latest scans have come back all-clear and we are very hopeful that he will make a full recovery but we just have to keep our fingers crossed for him,” added the Irish handler.
Meade admitted to being more disappointed with Jazz Messenger’s performance in the AIG Champion Hurdle than stable companion Iktitaf’s display in the same race.
Despite the latter finishing tailed off, Meade could find no real excuse for Jazz Messenger finishing fifth behind Hardy Eustace.
“I was a shade disappointed with him, surprisingly even more so than the other fellow (Iktitaf),” reasoned the County Meath handler.
“I thought he might have been closer than he was because he had no real excuse other than he didn’t quite jump as well as he can. He ran OK, but I expected him to run a little better than that.
“Iktitaf obviously ran very moderately but we did a lung wash on him and it came up dirty.
“He had a week of antibiotics and that seems to have cleaned him up.
“He ran so bad that you can just forget the run, it wasn’t him and hopefully he will be back to his best next time,” said Meade.
Meanwhile, Imperial Cup winner Victram is bang on target for another assault on a major handicap hurdle in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.
Adrian McGuinness’ charge will be making his fifth trip across the Irish Sea, with his last visit yielding a third-placed finish to Acambo and Tarlac in The Ladbroke at Ascot.
While those two head the betting for Saturday’s contest, Victram is available at 25-1.
However, he does have to put a disappointing showing in the Pierse Hurdle behind him.
“I just think he had too much weight last time in the Pierse, he had 11st 8lb and basically it is very hard to win a Pierse Hurdle with that kind of weight,” reflected McGuinness.
“We are not too badly treated over in England. I think we are about 12 or 13lb better off with Mister Hight than what we were in the Pierse.
“The ground should be fine for him if it’s good to soft like they say.”
