Meade has gold-en ambitions for Affordale Fury
PROGRESSIVE: Affordale Fury powers to victory in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Picture: Healy Racing
Affordale Fury will tread a path to the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his memorable success in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.
The Noel Meade-trained eight-year-old has always shown plenty of ability, and this season has stepped out in good form when second in the Champion Chases at both Gowran and Down Royal before winning a Listed contest at Thurles.
He lined up at Leopardstown a 7-1 shot under Sam Ewing, who was deputising for usual pilot Donagh Meyler, and the duo served it up to some big names, including Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin, when prevailing by two and a half lengths.
The Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival and then the blue riband at the Festival in March beckon, with the still lightly-raced Affordale Fury faring well following his exertions over the Christmas period.
Meade said: "He's come out of the race very well and the plan, more or less, is that he will go to the Irish Gold Cup and then, if we're happy with him, on to the Gold Cup. That's the way the plan is looking at the moment.
"He was very good and in fairness we were expecting a big run, he was in terrific shape and we were very happy with him.
"He did exactly what we hoped he'd do. He jumped a little to the right and I suppose if he didn't do that he'd had won a lot easier, but he was very good and finished it out well.
"He's come out of the race well and he's going to have an easy fortnight and then we'll start to build up for the next race."
Meanwhile, Meade's promising hurdler Blake has the Dublin Racing Festival on his agenda after just missing out on the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.
The five-year-old is a dual-purpose performer who ran to a mark of 94 on the level before switching codes and beginning his hurdling career with Meade last season.
This term he limbered up with a winning run on the Flat in the October Handicap at Leopardstown, after which he turned his attentions back to jumping with a maiden hurdle win at Down Royal.
He stepped up to Grade Two class at Fairyhouse in late November, and was just pipped at the post by Gordon Elliott's Koktail Brut when second by a head in the Royal Bond.
Meade said of the gelding: "Blake could go to the Dublin Racing Festival, there's a novice hurdle for him there.
"He ran a good race, he just made a bit of a mistake away from the last and that probably cost him the race.
"He looks like a nice horse, he's a very tall and leggy horse and that's why we've decided just give him plenty of time.
"That seems to be working and he's in good shape, we'll keep our fingers crossed that he can stay that way."
