Meade out to rule Supreme

Muirhead, ante-post favourite with a number of firms for the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, will arrive at Prestbury Park without the benefit of a prep run.

Noel Meade’s five-year-old is unbeaten in a bumper and two runs over timber, the most recent of which yielded a defeat of Cork All Star in the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in December.

Muirhead has the option of two contests at Cheltenham next month, but Meade is leaning towards the two-mile opener on March 11.

Meade said: “You’ll not see him before Cheltenham and he’ll go straight there, all being well.

“At the moment it’s gone to plan with him and it’s so far so good.

“He’s in both the Supreme and the Ballymore Properties race, but we’d probably go for the Supreme I’d think.”

Muirhead is available at a best-priced 12-1 with Sportingbet for the Supreme.