Sweet and sour for Meade

Trainer Noel Meade has grave doubts about the ground at Leopardstown ahead of Sweet Wake’s challenge against the mighty Yeats in the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes on Wednesday evening.

The mile and six furlong Listed event is the next step on Yeats’ agenda as he heads towards a repeat victory in the Ascot Gold Cup.

One of the top stayers in recent memory, Aidan O’Brien’s six-year-old started off the season with a very easy win at Navan last month.

Meade’s runner was also pretty useful on the Flat when trained in Germany and has a Group Two win at 11-furlongs on his record, but his trainer is concerned about conditions, currently riding on the good to firm side.

Sweet Wake moved to Ireland last season to go hurdling and had a fine novice campaign, although has not been in the same form this time around.

“We just kept him going because his jumping season was curtailed but to be honest the ground is very much against him,” reported Meade.

“I am fully convinced he wants it easy and he will run as long as it is good, but may not if it is firmer. He is rated around 110 on the Flat. I don’t know if he will stay a mile and six, but we’ll have to see.”

Six others line up in the Saval Beg including Mutakarrim, who will be seeking to provide Dermot Weld with a third consecutive victory in the race after Vinnie Roe and Media Puzzle.

John Oxx’s lightly-raced King In Waiting is another interesting candidate, with the field completed by Tartouche, Clara Allen, Sacrosanct and Whoneedswings.