Clarnazar can click
Meade hasn't enjoyed any success since Well Run scored at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day and that must seem like a lifetime to such a talented handler, who has so much firepower at his disposal.
The selection, a point-to-point, bumper and hurdles winner, is taking a big drop in class and, if running up his best, has to go close. He was in a different league at Gowran Park last time, contesting the Grade 3 Galmoy Hurdle. Hardly surprisingly the six-year-old cut little ice, but was wasn't disgraced either.
Clarnazar was beaten over 24 lengths into fourth behind Earth Magic with Sunday's impressive Navan scorer, Kazal, in third. Paul Carberry didn't knock him about when it was obvious he wasn't going to take a hand and, hopefully, this will signal a return to business as usual for Meade.
Boulavogue gets the nod to take a tricky looking six-runner Book The Punchestown Pavilion At Festival Hurdle.
His trainer, Charlie Swan, is another who could do with a change of luck and Boulavogue has every chance, following a creditable second to Larkwing at Navan.
Both sections of the Festival Hospitality Maiden Hurdle look woeful contests and the first is best left to Mourne Rambler.
Tony Martin's charge performed reasonably well when fourth to Step Outside at Clonmel and that appears to give him the edge against this opposition.
Tom Taaffe's Happiness Is Free, beaten 17 lengths when runner-up behind Western Gale on this track last time, gets the nod in the second.
Having A Cut, hugely impressive when winning his only point-to-point, could be the answer to the Bumper.
