Irish update for March and April Festival's
Noel Meade could well have unearthed a lively outsider for the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 15 days time in Go Native, who was quite a comfortable winner of the Grade 2 paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.
The Double Eclipse gelding's defeat of the Grade 2 scorer Roberto Goldback was another ringing endorsement for Hurricane Fly, who dispatched him with consummate ease at Leopardstown after Christmas. However, this should not overshadow the fact that Go Native is a talented novice.
He travelled especially well throughout the Naas race and did win with authority. It is worth bearing in mind that he has form on a much quicker surface - such versatility in terms of ground could stand him in good stead at Cheltenham - and his trainer felt that he could improve for this run also.
Obviously he has a lot to find with Hurricane Fly should they cross swords at Cheltenham but he is a strong traveller and a good jumper and it is not hard to envisage him running a big race in the Cotswolds should he get the all clear to take his chance there.
Later on the card Charles Byrnes's Carthalawn disposed of Schindlers Hunt and Mansony in the two mile Newlands Chase to confirm the progress that has been evident from his last few runs while Joncol looked a fine staying chaser in the making with a ten length success in the Grade 2 novice chase.
The Paul Nolan-trained Joncol should be a good deal sharper for this experience, which was his first run since he made a winning start over fences in early December, and, if there was some ease in the ground, he can play a major role in a race like the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over Easter. An imposing six-year-old who has run just four times on the track, he could develop into a potent force over fences.
The two-mile three-furlong bumper has produced two Cheltenham bumper winners over the last decade and it witnessed an intriguing clash between the debut course winner Quadrillon, trained by Willie Mullins, and Rite Of Passage, who looked a decent sort when winning a Galway bumper on his first taste of racecourse action last August.
Despite probably not having the ground to suit and an absence of over six month to overcome, Rite Of Passage still turned in a very smart effort to account for Quadrillon by six lengths. His Cheltenham participation is far from certain but this effort would put him right into the reckoning for that race and there is surely more to come from the five-year-old.
Elsewhere Black Apalachi completed his John Smith's Grand National preparations with flying colours at Fairyhouse on Saturday as he produced a pillar to post tour de force in the Grade 2 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase.
The Dessie Hughes inmate, who ran promisingly over hurdles at the start of the month, looked to be on excellent terms with himself as he disposed of Snowy Morning by 17 lengths.
He is deservedly one of the leading fancies for Aintree glory - he won over the National fences in November's Beecher Chase - and soft ground at Liverpool would increase his chances of victory all the more.
Snowy Morning will also head to Aintree where he ran a fine third last year. He has not been at his best this term and was well held on this occasion. However, the tacky ground certainly wouldn't have played to his strengths and it would be most unwise to underestimate his chances as he does tend to come to himself in the springtime.
Hughes came away from Fairyhouse with a Grade 2 double to his name having also landed the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle with Kyrie Eleison.
The Kalanisi gelding did well to overcome a bad mistake at the last and his trainer feels that he will improve for better ground, although he has plenty to find with the best juveniles around. His victory was a boost for the Triumph hopefuls Jumbo Rio, Ebadiyan and Mourad who had him back in fifth at Leopardstown six days previously.
Earlier in the week Willie Mullins further strengthened his Cheltenham team as Quevega staked her claim for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle with a fluent success in a conditions hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday.
Running for the first time in 241 days, she can be expected to make significant progress off this outing and will be a major player for her Prestbury Park assignment.
It is worth remembering that during her four-year-old campaign she finished just a couple of lengths behind Hurricane Fly in a Grade 1 at Auteuil.
The week also served up several bumper winners for the yard including Lios A Choill who made a winning start to his career at Fairyhouse.
The Saddlers' Hall gelding quickened up smartly off a very slow pace to win decisively and he looked like that would improve appreciably for the experience.
An especially well bred sort, he looks a horse of considerable potential and is another intriguing candidate for Cheltenham.
John Kiely also has an excellent record in bumpers this term and he unveiled quite a smart sort in Taking Stock who scored at Punchestown on Wednesday.
This could well be the Flemensfirth gelding's only outing this season. However, there was much to like about his effort and his is a name to remember for next term.
Undoubtedly one of the most promising individuals on view over the last week was the Enda Bolger-trained An Siorrac who was deeply impressive in a hunters chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.
Unbeaten in his two point-to-point starts, which included a defeat of the decent hunter chaser Carronhills, the six-year-old couldn't have made a better start to his racecourse career in defeating Royal Blood by 30 lengths.
Cheltenham isn't on his agenda and instead he is likely to head to the Fairyhouse and Punchestown Festivals. Nonetheless, his is a name to remember and he is a horse of considerable potential.
update BTD