Meade aims high with Dylan

Noel Meade admits Dylan Ross has plenty on his plate as the smart hurdler kicks off his career over fences at Roscommon on Monday.

Although the six-year-old won just once from seven starts during his novice campaign over timber, he filled the runner-up spot on four consecutive occasions, including at Grade One level.

He has not been seen since finishing down the field in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and will have to be on the top of his game if he is to make a winning return in the Grade Three Kilbegnet European Breeders Fund Novice Chase.

The Mouse Morris-trained Baily Green has won his last four races, Henry de Bromhead’s House Rules impressed at Killarney last time and Imperial Shabra and Boxer Beat complete the field.

Meade said: “It’s a difficult enough race to start him off in but we just thought even if we ran him in a beginners’ chase somewhere it would probably be a hot race, so we thought we might as well let him take his chance.

“The fences aren’t overly big in Roscommon and he’s jumped well and he’s in good form, so we’ll be hoping for the best.”

Morris is slightly concerned about the very testing conditions for his charge, but is pleased with his condition.

Morris said: “The ground is going to be heavy but he’ll have to deal with it. We know he’s in good form and the horses are running well god bless them.

“There are fences to jump and the ground might not be ideal, but we’ll see what happens.”