Supreme Novices still an option for Aran Concerto
Noel Meade may opt for the shorter trip of the Supreme if the ground comes up soft for his high-class six-year-old.
“I had a brief word with Paul (Carberry) to see what he thought and he wasn’t sure which race might suit Aran Concerto better, said Meade.
“We’ll talk again during the week and try to assess both.
“I’ve favoured the longer race all along but I suppose if we got soft ground it would make the Supreme Novices’ a realistic option.”
Aran Concerto, a winner of four of his five starts, could not have looked any more impressive at the weekend when easily landing the Grade One Deloitte Hurdle over two miles, two furlongs at Leopardstown.
Meanwhile, Accordion Etoile could have his first start for almost a year in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase – but his participation hinges firmly on the going.
Handler Paul Nolan stresses his highly-talented eight-year-old, something of a forgotten horse for the two-mile championship, requires decent ground to put his best foot forward.
Accordion Etoile suffered a setback after landing his first Grade One victory at Punchestown last April, but is reportedly in good shape again now.
“Accordion Etoile is still on course, but the ground is what’s important and I certainly wouldn’t advise people to be backing mine ante-post,” Nolan said. “I know it’s hard to call the ground at Cheltenham because it can change very quickly, but there’d be no point in going unless it is better ground.
“Ideally you would prefer to have a run before, but there are plenty of courses we could go to to get a proper racecourse gallop so it wouldn’t be the main issue.
“I don’t think it would be necessary to get a run into my horses as they could all run fresh and we have the facilities at home to have them ready.”
Cuan Na Grai is extremely unlikely to run at the Cheltenham Festival if the ground remains on the soft side.
Nolan’s youngster was an impressive winner of the Galway Hurdle back in August but has not been seen since disappointing at Cheltenham on dead ground back in November.
Nolan has not ruled out a return to the venue in March, but has other options open to his Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle entrant later in the year.
“He’s fine but the yard hasn’t really been sparkling for the last couple of months as we’ve had a bit of a bug which has given the horses sore throats,” he said.
“He was having a bit of a break when we had that, so in fairness it didn’t really affect him and he’s in work now.
“With the way the weather has been we feel that although we have him on line for Cheltenham, he wouldn’t go unless the ground is good.
“Therefore we are possibly aiming more towards our Festivals here with him (in Ireland).”
One Nolan inmate very likely to run at Cheltenham is Grade One winner Kill Devil Hill, who has been out of action since pulling up at Cork in December.
“He’s had the one good run this year and then one terrible run, but hopefully we’ve sorted him out now and on his day he is a very good horse,” he added.
Meanwhile, Colm Murphy’s unbeaten hurdler Feathard Lady has been retired due to injury.
The mare created a huge impression in seven races highlighted by victory in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Sandown in 2005 – which proved her swansong.
Having missed last year’s Cheltenham Festival with a strained fetlock joint injury, it had been hoped she would make a full recovery.
However, connections have decided to call time on her promising career.
“It’s a blow for everyone concerned with the horse, especially the owners,” said Murphy.
“It’s a pity, but she has been plagued by injuries and it is a recurrence of a check-ligament injury.
“The boys had a meeting last night and on veterinary advice, it was decided to retire her.
“We never really knew how good she was as everything she did she did so well.
“It’s been a pity as even in her novice days she missed out on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with an injury and then she missed the Champion (Hurdle) the following year.
“We never did much with her at home but whenever we threw her in at the deep end, she seemed very good,” he said.
Feathard Lady earned connections £112,697 in prize money with two victories in bumpers and five triumphs over timber.
lThe meeting at Fairyhouse tomorrow is subject to a 3pm inspection today as the track is currently unraceable.
