Pady poised to return at Punchestown
After winning the 2009 Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, the nine-year-old filled the runner-up spot on his next seven starts, running with huge credit in races like the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Melling Chase at Aintree.
He was pulled up on his first try at three miles in last season’s King George VI Chase at Kempton and has not been seen since having returned to Ireland a sick horse.
He makes his seasonal reappearance over just a furlong shorter than three miles at Punchestown, but Cooper does not expect a lack of stamina to be a problem.
“Everything is fine with him and all going well he’ll run on Thursday,” said Cooper.
“We’ll see how he gets on over the trip, but I think he’ll be fine with it.
“He’s in good form and while he’ll improve for the run, I think he’s fit enough to do himself justice – I wouldn’t be running him otherwise.
“Hopefully he’ll run well.”
Meanwhile, Paul Nolan is tempted to run Joncol in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November.
The giant eight-year-old, twice a Grade One winner already, only ran three times last season and must have soft ground to be seen at his best.
He finished third in the Lexus Chase for the second successive year but was disappointing in defence of his Irish Hennessy crown.
Nolan has earmarked the Thurles Chase on November 3 as a starting point, after a which a decision on whether he makes his first trip to England will be made.
“Joncol looks in great form,” said Nolan.
“There’s a conditions chase at Thurles that he can go for the first week of November and after he‘s run in that we‘ll make a decision whether he runs in the Hennessy at Newbury, possibly.”
Muirhead could also be heading for the Hennessy following his excellent display in the Munster National at Limerick on Sunday.
The eight-year-old was a Grade One winner during his novice hurdle campaign and has performed well at the highest level over the smaller obstacles on a number of occasions since, placing second in an Irish Champion Hurdle and fifth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Meade has successfully turned the talented gelding into a potent staying chaser judged on Sunday’s performance and he could travel over to England next month.
“It was a good performance as he jumped and travelled well and the step up to three miles obviously suited him,” said Meade.
“We’ll see what sort of penalty he gets now before we make any plans for him, but I’ll give him an entry in the Hennessy and we’ll have a look at that.
“There is also a good handicap chase at Ascot (United House Gold Cup) but that’s at the end of the month and might come a bit soon for him.
“He hasn’t really had any problems. He pulled a muscle behind a little while ago but other than that, he’s been sound.
“He’s just been running in very good races.”
