Meade anticipating Pandorama return
Noel Meade is confident Pandorama will be ready for action when the National Hunt season kicks into gear after recovering from an injury sustained in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The four-time Grade One winner ran a creditable seventh in the blue riband considering conditions were too fast, but he returned to Ireland very sore.
Meade had been concerned his pride and joy had suffered some more long-term damage, but he now feels he will be ready for a return in November.
“I’m just going to leave him another little while and he hasn’t come back yet, but we were very happy with him when he went out (to grass),” Meade told At The Races.
“I think he’ll be back some time around the end of November. I suppose the race in the north (JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal) is the first race we could think about.
“The one that I would be hoping for is the race in Leopardstown at Christmas (Lexus Chase).”
Realt Dubh was one of Meade’s flagbearers last season, winning three times at the highest level before placing at both Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring.
The trainer admits the seven-year-old is likely to find life tougher this term, however.
“He’s come back in great form and did well over the summer,” Meade added.
“He won three Grade Ones last season and was second to Captain Chris in Punchestown and third to him in the Arkle.
“It’s always a tough second season for those horses as they have to jump up and play against the big boys, but there are plenty of conditions races in Ireland.
“He gets two and a half (miles). I’m not sure if he’ll get three or not.
“He had a great season last year and if this year is as good, we’ll be happy.”
Go Native has not been seen in competitive action since suffering an injury in the 2010 Champion Hurdle and Meade confirmed he will not be back in action any time soon.
“He’s certainly not going to be back this year. He got injured in the Champion Hurdle and it has proved hard to get him right,” said the trainer.
“It’s very sad but that’s the way it is and we’re hoping that maybe next season he might be back.”
