Jazz Messenger aims for Champion Hurdle

Jazz Messenger will head straight to Cheltenham for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle after pleasing Noel Meade when second at Gowran on Saturday.

The eight-year-old finished four and a half lengths behind Catch Me in the Red Mills Centenary Trial Hurdle, having previously taken third behind Al Eile in the December Festival Hurdle.

Meade also saddled Aitmatov to take second behind Kazal in Sunday’s Boyne Hurdle but has yet to firm up plans for that one, who also has the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as an alternative option to the Champion.

Meade said: “Jazz Messenger and Aitmatov both seem fine after the weekend and Jazz will head for the Champion now.

“That’ll be it for him now and he will head straight to Cheltenham.

“I don’t know what we’ll do with Aitmatov just yet. I shall discuss it with the owner and it’s a possibility that he might yet run in the three-miler.

“Nothing’s been decided for him though. He might not go to Cheltenham at all so we’ll just see what happens.”

County Meath-based Meade has only saddled one winner since the turn of the year, but feels his string are now gradually clicking into gear at an opportune time with Cheltenham on the horizon.

“Three of mine ran well over the weekend and we had three seconds from them so we’d be a good bit happier about things,” he added.