Meade set to turn on the style
The seven-year-old looked a promising recruit after winning at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve but put up no showing at all on his next start behind Telenor and Uimhiraceathair in the Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan.
Meade think he is better than he showed on that occasion and hopes the headgear sparks him back into life.
“He was very disappointing the last day,” said Meade.
“That was a better race than this so it is a drop in class but Davy (Condon) just thought a pair of blinkers might help him a bit.
“With a bit of luck they might spark him into life.”
Meade also confirmed that his RSA Chase hope Pandorama is unlikely to make the Cheltenham Festival due to a recent setback but Champion Hurdle favourite Go Native remains in great heart.
He added: “I’d say it’s highly unlikely Pandorama will make it, it’s a shame but hopefully there’ll be other days for him.
“Go Native is great, though, and we can’t wait for the race.”
Edward O’Grady’s O’Muircheartaigh is another looking to put a recent disappointment behind him after pulling up at Punchestown on his latest outing.
“He stays well so hopefully he’ll run a good race,” said O’Grady.
“Nothing came to light after his last run but he ran well at Fairyhouse the time before so hopefully he can reproduce that.”
Also in the line-up is George Stewart’s News Item, winner of the race in 2006 and 2007.
Meanwhile Robert Thornton is confident Twist Magic can continue his fine run of form in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
The eight-year-old is enjoying his best season for some time, having won the Tingle Creek and the Victor Chandler Chase, but doubts still remain over his ability to handle the Prestbury Park circuit.
He has failed to complete in two of his three visits to the track but Thornton, who has ridden Paul Nicholls’ charge once before, is unfazed by statistics.
“He’s progressed well through the season and probably at the start of the season he was slightly forgotten about,” the jockey told At The Races.
“I rode him in the Tingle Creek behind Master Minded a couple of years ago and we fell at the second last when going very well.
“When I picked myself up off the floor I thought I’d nearly have won that but after watching the replay I wasn’t so sure as Master Minded won well.
“That day he gave me a fantastic feel and it was just unfortunate he knuckled over, but we’re not too worried about that. He’s a top two-mile chaser and there is no doubt about that, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Thornton was surprised to come in for the ride on Somersby in the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Tony McCoy was in the plate when the six-year-old won the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, but the 14-times champion jockey will be on board Captain Cee Bee for his boss, JP McManus.
Thornton, who also rode Captain Cee Bee to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory in 2008, was thrilled to get the call-up.
“Somersby was very good at Sandown and a pleasure to watch,” Thornton told At The Races. “I’ll have a school on him in the next few days. He looks like the one who could mix it with Captain Cee Bee.”
