Galway Plate hero Pinkerton looks set to bid for another major prize in the Nyetimber December Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Also a winner at the Punchestown Festival in the spring, the eight-year-old provided trainer Noel Meade with his second victory in Galway’s €250,000 summer showpiece at the end of July, 10 years on from the triumph of his top-class chaser Road To Riches.
Pinkerton was last seen finishing second to Gordon Elliott’s subsequent Fortria Chase winner Found A Fifty in a Grade Two at Down Royal and was one of 14 horses to stand their ground for this weekend’s Cheltenham feature at Monday’s confirmation stage.
The Grade 3 Tote Galway Plate goes the way of Pinkerton, who travelled strongly all the way to the wire under Donagh Meyler landing the prize for @tuvastables 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ug5z4a0goP
“He’s a probable runner. He’s got to work in the morning so we’ll see how that goes, but if the work goes good, there’s a good chance he’ll run,” said Meade.
“He’s in good form, I hope. We just want to get some blood tests done, as his blood was a bit off a fortnight ago. I’m hoping it’s back to normal.
“We wouldn’t want fast ground or anything like that, but I’m sure it won’t be and if he gets there well, he’d have his chance for sure.”
The December Gold Cup weights are headed by the Paul Nicholls-trained Stage Star, who will look to improve on his comeback run when fourth in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree.
Il Ridoto and Freddie Gingell winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup (David Davies/The Jockey Club)
Nicholls will also saddle Il Ridoto, who is out to complete a big Cheltenham double following his victory in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The seven-year-old looks set to renew rivalry with plenty of those who finished behind him in the November feature, with the runner-up Ga Law (Jamie Snowden), the fourth home Madara (Dan Skelton) and the fifth placed Fugitif (Richard Hobson) – a thrilling winner of last year’s December Gold Cup over Il Ridoto – all in the mix.
The Venetia Williams-trained Gemirande, Alan King’s Grandeur D’Ame and James Du Berlais from the Willie Mullins yard also feature in a wide-open contest.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/277014386-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-12-09 15:46:332024-12-09 15:46:33Pinkerton poised for December Gold Cup Cheltenham raid
Staged at Down Royal racecourse in Ireland this Saturday’s (2nd November 2024) Ladbrokes Champion Chase(formerly the JNwine.com Chase) always attracts some of the best chasers from both England and Ireland.
Run over 3m the Grade 1 contest has been won by greats such as Kauto Star, Beef Or Salmon, Looks Like Trouble and Florida Pearl in the past.
With top UK trainer Paul Nicholls winning 5 of the last 17 renewals then anything he sends across the Irish Sea should be respected, while the powerful Gordon Elliott camp have also saddled four of the last 9 winners.
Elliott and Nicholls are the joint-winning trainers - both with five successes.
While it's a race the Gigginstown House Stud horses have done very well in recently - they've won the race seven times since 2013.
Here at GEEGEEZ.co.uk we are on hand with all the key stats head of the 2024 renewal – this year run on Saturday 2nd November 2024
Recent Ladbrokes Champion Chase Winners
2023 - GERRI COLOMBE (4/7 fav)
2022 - ENVOI ALLEN (7/2)
2021 - FRODON (3/1)
2020 - THE STORYTELLER (9/2)
2019 – ROAD TO RESPECT (5/2)
2018 – ROAD TO RESPECT (6/4 fav)
2017 – OUTLANDER (16/1)
2016 – VALSEUR LIDO (2/1 fav)
2015 – DON COSSACK (2/11 fav)
2014 – ROAD TO RICHES (9/2)
2013 – ROI du MEE (12/1)
2012 – KAUTO STONE (4/1)
2011 – QUITO de la ROQUE (11/4 fav)
2010 – KAUTO STAR (4/7 fav)
2009 – THE LISTENER (7/1)
2008 – KAUTO STAR (2/5 fav)
2007 – TARANIS (10/11 fav)
2006 – BEEF OR SALMON (11/4)
2005 – No Race
2004 – BEEF OR SALMON (Evs)
2003 – GLENELLY GALE (7/1)
2002 – MORE THAN A STROLL (20/1)
2001 – FOXCHAPEL KING (4/1)
Ladbrokes Champion Chase Betting Trends
20/22 – Had won at least a Grade 2 Chase before
18/22 – Had won over at least 3m over fences before
17/22 – Had won at least 5 times over fences before
16/22 – Aged 8 or older
16/22 – Returned 9/2 or shorter in the betting
15/22 – Had won a Grade 1 Chase before
14/22 – Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
13/22 – Winning distance 2 ½ lengths or more
12/22 – Having their first run of the season
11/22 – Had run at Down Royal before
10/22 – Winning favourites
8/22 – Won by a Gigginstown House Stud-owned horse (7 winners since 2013)
7/22 – Won their last race
6/22– Raced at Aintree last time out
5/22 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
5/22 – Trained by Gordon Elliott (4 of the last 9)
4/22 – Raced at Limerick last time out
Henry De Bromhead has won 2 of the last 7
The last 13 winners aged 9 or younger
The average winning SP in the last 10 runnings is 4/1
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Pinkerton kept on strongly in the closing stages to prevail in a typically hard-fought renewal of the Tote Galway Plate.
Despite having won his last two starts at Tipperary and Punchestown in April and May respectively, Noel Meade’s charge was sent off at 20-1 under Donagh Meyler.
However, the seven-year-old travelled well throughout and produced a stirring finish to make those odds look generous and give Meade a second success in this €270,000 handicap chase, which he took with Road To Riches a decade ago.
The Grade 3 Tote Galway Plate goes the way of Pinkerton, who travelled strongly all the way to the wire under Donagh Meyler landing the prize for @tuvastables 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ug5z4a0goP
Duffle Coat also dug deep up the home stretch to finish half a length back in second at 25-1, with Zanahiyr and Life In The Park just behind in third and fourth.
Last year’s winner Ash Tree Meadow set a strong early pace and was still out in front turning for home, but a 15lb rise up the ratings from 12 months ago ultimately took its toll as he slipped backwards late on.
Meade said: “It’s a huge race. The big races here are huge and this is one of the biggest ones.
“I thought I wasn’t going to get it and then Road To Riches popped up.
“After this fella won in Punchestown, we said we’d wait for here.
“We gave him a little break and he’s been doing everything right. We brought him to Killarney but didn’t run him, as we thought the ground was too quick.
In Excelsis Deo bids to become a rare British-trained winner of the Tote Galway Plate on Wednesday.
It is 16 years since Oslot claimed top honours for Paul Nicholls, while the only other horse to travel across the Irish Sea and plunder the Ballybrit showpiece in the last half-century was the Philip Hobbs-trained Amlah in 1998.
Harry Fry’s In Excelsis Deo will line up as a leading contender for the €270,000 contest, having been saved for the race since landing the Grade Two Silver Trophy at Cheltenham in April.
The six-year-old, who is fitted with cheek pieces for the first time, is one of four runners for owner JP McManus, along with Gavin Cromwell’s Punchestown Festival runner-up Perceval Legallois and the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Saint Roi and Janidil.
Perceval Legallois (right) in action at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)
“Perceval Legallois ran well in Punchestown and this looked the obvious race to have a go at. Gavin is happy with him, it’s a very competitive race and you need a bit of luck, but he goes there in good form,” said McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry.
“In Excelsis Deo ran well in some of those good handicaps in Cheltenham last season, Harry is pleased with him. He won’t mind the ground and we’re hoping for a good run.
“Saint Roi ran a blinder in Punchestown, he missed a fence and just got nabbed on the line. He’s going there fresh and well and Willie is happy with him and Janidil – but of the two, Saint Roi looks the one with the current form.”
The powerhouse stables of Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead are all well represented, with Mister Policeman perhaps the pick of the champion trainer’s squad.
Zanahiyr and course and distance winner Ash Tree Meadow look Elliott’s two leading hopes, while Rachael Blackmore has sided with Lets Go Champ over the other De Bromhead runners – Amirite, Toss Again and Life In The Park.
A shock winner of the feature Listed Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National Handicap Chase as Idas Boy strikes at odds of 40/1 in the hands of Conor Stone-Walsh for trainer @tuvastables 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bI6QMZ0nxi
Noel Meade, who won the 2014 Galway Plate with Road To Riches, has a couple of bullets to fire in the form of recent Mullingar Midlands National winner Idas Boy and Pinkerton, who beat Saint Roi by a short head at the Punchestown Festival in early May.
Meade said: “Idas Boy obviously went up a few pounds for winning in Kilbeggan, but still the top-weight (Ash Tree Meadow) stayed in to keep him down the weights and if he gets a good run round, he has to have an each-way chance.
“The other lad is the same. You couldn’t be sure he’d get the trip, but I’d be more worried about the ground than the trip actually.
“As long as there’s a good enough ease in the ground, he has a respectable chance.”
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Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Noel Meade will attempt to add a Classic to his decorated CV on Saturday when Caught U Looking heads to the Curragh for the Juddmonte Irish Oaks.
A seven-time champion trainer over jumps in Ireland, Meade has tasted Group One glory on the level courtesy of Helvic Dream in the 2021 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Now the dual-purpose handler attempts to break another ceiling with his daughter of Derby-winning Harzand, who was an honourable fifth in her first taste of Classic action at Epsom.
Caught U Looking travelled smoothly in the hands of Colin Keane on that occasion and hit the front three furlongs from home, but she had no answer to the likes of Ezeliya in the closing stages as her challenge faded and she was beaten nine lengths.
Caught U Looking after winning at the Curragh last season (Brian Lawless/PA)
However, Meade feels she has been hitting all her markers at home since that outing on the Surrey Downs and is eager to see what she can produce in her second bite of the Classic cherry.
“I’m looking forward to it, she’s in good form and we hope she has come on a bit from Epsom,” said Meade.
“I was a little bit disappointed with her in Epsom, but having said that she ran a reasonably good race all the same so hopefully now she will improve from that.
“It’s a different track, although we can’t complain as we handled the other track (Epsom) well. She’s a well-balanced filly, so I don’t think the track will make too much difference.
Noel Meade could add a Classic to his many big-race victories over jumps (Brian Lawless/PA)
“We’re likely to have better ground (than Epsom) and we don’t really know about that as she has never really ran on good ground but we’re hopeful she will handle that.
“We’ve been very happy with how she has been since coming home, she’s been training really well and we think she has done well since Epsom.
“Horses like this are what you’re always wanting to have and we’re excited.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/273865643-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-07-17 14:03:362024-07-17 14:03:36Meade looking for Classic glory with Caught U Looking
Noel Meade is considering a slight drop in grade for star filly Caught U Looking after her fifth-placed finish in the Betfred Oaks.
The three-year-old went to battle with fellow Irish raider Ezeliya in the feature race on Friday’s card at Epsom, but she came home nine lengths behind Dermot Weld’s charge.
Jockey Colin Keane kept the Harzand filly on the far rail as she challenged the leaders with three furlongs to go, but Ezeliya blitzed her 11 rivals to secure a three-length success in the Group One contest.
It was a much closer affair when the pair faced one another in April’s Salsabil Stakes at Navan, where Caught U Looking, who had to give away 3lb to her competitor, was only two lengths adrift of Weld’s filly in fourth.
Caught U Looking has trailed Ezeliya in her last two starts (Brian Lawless/PA)
Meade has ruled out a quick return in next week’s Group Three Darley Munster Oaks at Cork and while she has an entry in the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, Meade is uncertain which route to take at present.
“She’s come home well. She came out of the race very well and he (Keane) didn’t knock her around, I think if he did knock her around then she probably comes fourth,” Meade said.
“But he didn’t, which is good, hopefully we get paid back for that in time.
Noel Meade insists ‘all the doors are open’ for Caught U Looking (Damien Eagers/PA)
“I was slightly disappointed to be honest with you, I thought she would be closer because of the run at Navan. She did run well in that and she was giving 3lb away to the winner, so the winner improved quite a bit, or we didn’t, don’t know which way or the other. She ran a solid race without starring.
“I’m not too sure what I’m going to do next. She’s in everything, she’s in the Irish Oaks and she’s in the Pretty Polly. Maybe it will be better to come down a bit, they are both obviously Group Ones, so maybe it is better to come down a step to Group Two or Group Three.
“She’s in the Ribblesdale as well. Whether that’s a possibility or not, I don’t know. Only a possibility.
“All the doors are open at the moment and we will see what we will do. The main thing is she’s come home very sound and very well. There is nothing set in stone on where she will go and we will see what we think when we go forward in the next week or so.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/274138569-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-06-04 16:39:472024-06-04 16:39:47Meade mulling next move with Caught U Looking
Paul Carberry has hailed Harchibald as “a total machine of a horse” as he paid tribute to Noel Meade’s hurdling great following his death at he age of 25.
Some would say Harchibald and his ever-loyal pilot were a match made in heaven, with Carberry’s style and ice-cool nerve perfect to maximise the son of Perugino’s quirky personality but undoubted ability.
The duo linked up 28 times together on the racecourse, returning to the winner’s enclosure nine times, and while both would become popular racing figures in their own right, their affinity for each other stood the test of time.
Meade described Harchibald as his favourite horse upon the news of his death and that sentiment has been echoed by Carberry, who holds his former mount in the highest esteem.
Harchibald in action (Fiona Hanson/PA)
“He was a serious horse and my favourite horse as well I suppose,” said Carberry.
“Noel said he was his favourite horse, but he was my favourite too. He was a quirky character but a total machine of a horse.
“He had so much ability and his quirkiness meant he was the type of horse I liked to ride. He was one you had to land on the line and you couldn’t go too soon on him.
“His jumping was also very good and he was the best hurdler I ever rode – he was very fast and I suppose that is what made him pretty special.”
A motionless Paul Carberry aboard Harchibald (centre) (Barry Batchelor/PA)
Harchibald and Carberry joined forces to score at Grade One level on five occasions, with trips to the UK proving fruitful for the Irish-based pair as they won both Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle and the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle twice.
However, for all the many great days they enjoyed together, they will perhaps always be remembered most for the time defeat was snatched from what looked the jaws of victory in the 2005 Champion Hurdle.
Carberry was sat motionless up the run-in but ultimately lost the battle with Hardy Eustace, going down by a neck with Brave Inca the same distance away in third.
However, the Irishman feels there can be no regrets about that day and Harchibald was simply a victim of circumstance having travelled supremely into contention much earlier than anticipated.
Carberry continued: “We had some great days and I think he is the horse I rode the most Grade One wins on. We had some very good days and also one particularly bad day. I think people probably remember that day more than any other day.
“I think that day he was just a bit unlucky, he got gaps when I probably didn’t need them and he just got there too soon. It was a fair horse that beat him as well so you can’t really complain too much.”
Another of Harchibald’s narrow reversals, to Straw Bear in the 2007 Christmas Hurdle, had Meade questioning why Carberry never reached for his whip to try to bridge the head differential with AP McCoy’s mount.
However, the brilliant bay’s rider was never in any doubt that his accomplice was giving maximum effort and explained that no matter what impression Harchibald may have given to the viewer at home or spectator on track, he always had the most tenacious of triers underneath him.
Harchibald locked in battle with Straw Bear at Kempton (Alan Crowhurst/PA)
Carberry added: “I always knew he was giving me his best, but nobody else knew that. He would always give his best and give all he could give, that was just the way he was.
“You just had to know how to time it right to get the best out of him, go slow at the start then finish fast.
“I don’t think he really stayed two miles, he was more of a one-mile-six horse and you just needed to regulate that a little bit to get the best out of him.”
“I rode a lot of good horses but he was definitely my favourite.”
Noel Meade has paid a heartfelt tribute to Harchibald following news of the hugely popular hurdler’s death at the age of 25.
So brilliant in his victories, he is remembered just as much for his defeat in the 2005 Champion Hurdle, where Paul Carberry was sat motionless up the run-in but ultimately lost the battle with Hardy Eustace, going down by a neck with Brave Inca the same distance away in third.
“Hail the King, our King is dead….Harchi was my favourite horse of all time,” Meade posted on X.
Harchibald (centre) locked in battle with Hardy Eustace (right) and Brave Inca (left) (Barry Batchelor/PA)
“I know on occasions he annoyed people and for sure he annoyed me but we had great days together, @paulcarberry Harchi & myself…never to be forgotten & I’d like to thank Johnny & Danielle Hurley for looking after him so well in his retirement. He became part of the family with them. R.I.P. old friend… #harchibald.”
Harchibald’s five Grade One wins included two victories in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and two in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. He also landed the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle at Tipperary.
In total Meade’s star won 14 of his 48 starts under rules, amassing over £500,000 in prize-money.
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/25464598-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-05-14 20:13:162024-05-14 20:13:16Meade pays tribute to Harchibald following superstar hurdler’s death, aged 25
Group One winner Helvic Dream got off the mark under the National Hunt code in the Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle.
Noel Meade’s seven-year-old started out over timber this season following a successful Flat career that saw him win the Tattersalls Gold Cup from Broome in 2021.
He was also a Group Three winner, with many placed runs in good quality events on the level on his CV as well, but his first two attempts over obstacles ended in defeat earlier in the term.
The gelding was an 11-2 chance under Sam Ewing and was towards the rear of the leading group of six horses when turning for home, having travelled in mid-division for much of the race.
He met the last wrong and landed in a heap but was able to regain his momentum in impressive style to pick off the horses ahead of him and prevail by half a length.
A DREAM finish! 🩵🩷
Helvic Dream gets the last all wrong but still has the class to run down Angostura close home and open his hurdles account.
“That was great. The danger was getting home in the ground and then the last didn’t help,” said Meade.
“He actually stuck at it well in the ground. Finbar (Cahill, co-owner) was in Mexico and Tom (Hendron, co-owner) was in the Canaries and I said to them that I thought he’d win – and then I started to worry about the ground.
“I nearly would have preferred if it stayed raining and it was kind of loose.
“We’ll see what happens, it’s taken him a while to get the hang of it. First, we had to get him to settle, which took a long time.
“He’s jumping very well at home and he is very good. I’d say he will be better when he gets a little bit better ground, he does like it soft but a little bit better than that.”
Helvic Dream (right) winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Brian Lawless/PA)
Meade does not have any big hurdling plans for the gelding yet and aims to give him more experience in the discipline before a Flat campaign in the summer.
He said: “He’s still novicey for anything big, so I would have thought we’ll try and get another run into him somewhere and then tip along. He will go back on the Flat again this year.
“I said the other day that if he was in a Group race (on the Flat), I’d fancy him because he’s that well in himself.”
Cantico made light work of the William Hill Bet10Get5 On Irish Racing INH Flat Race for Willie Mullins and his son Patrick.
The five-year-old won his sole point to point start and was third on his bumper debut when contesting a Leopardstown event on Boxing Day.
Cantico and Patrick Mullins (Damien Eagers/PA)
He was the favourite on that occasion and headed the market again at Navan, starting at 4-11 and securing a six-length victory in the yellow and brown silks also worn by Galopin Des Champs.
“We were disappointed to get beaten at Christmas and I think he improved from it,” said Patrick Mullins.
“He could be a horse for nicer ground, he shows more gears at home than he has on the track and maybe that’s just the soft ground blunting his speed.
“We hope that he’s even better than the bare result there, even though he was very good.
“He was on his own there as well and he is a raw horse, he has been that way since we started, and I think he’ll improve for racing.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/275314864-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-02-11 14:32:452024-02-11 17:15:05Helvic Dream swoops late to break hurdles duck
It may be almost 20 years since his heartbreaking Champion Hurdle near miss, but Harchibald still holds a special place in the affections of his trainer Noel Meade.
Harchibald won 14 of his 48 career appearances and struck at the highest level on five occasions.
But the conclusion of his 2005 Cheltenham Festival defeat – where he loomed up large in the hands of ever-loyal pilot Paul Carberry before agonisingly falling a neck short of victory – remains the underlying memory of Harchibald’s storied career on the racecourse.
Retired in 2009 and now 25 years of age, Harchibald is enjoying life in Cork, but his old tutor is always keen to be updated on the well-being of his favourite pupil.
“He was a great horse to have and we enjoyed him. He’s still my favourite horse,” said Meade.
“He is down in Cork with the Hurleys. When he retired, we gave him to Johnny Hurley’s wife to ride in racehorse classes, which she did for a while, but he wasn’t that simple at it.
“So, they eventually retired him from that as well and he’s been living the life of luxury for the last number of years, being well looked after.
“I’ve seen him a couple of times since he’s retired, I haven’t been down there lately, but they let me know what’s happening with him.”
Here is the legendary Harchibald enjoying his retirement at the grand age of 23!
It is probably fair to say no horse won the @betfairracing Fighting Fifth in the style he won!
Harchibald was at his peak during the 2004-2005 season, when successful raids on Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton made him a prime candidate to land the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Sent off 7-1 behind joint-favourites Hardy Eustace (the defending champion) and Back In Front, Carberry was at his patient best when biding his time in the rear before beginning to smoothly move into contention on the run to two out.
What happened next has gone down in Festival folklore, as a motionless Carberry cruised alongside fellow hurdling greats Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca jumping the last and remained locked on the bridle as the trio edged their way up the lung-busting Cheltenham hill.
With the winning post approaching, Carberry remained static, as if a cat playing with his prey, but although he knew Harchibald better than most, when the time finally came to ask his mount to go on and win the Champion Hurdle, he was repelled by the tough-as-teak title holder.
“I suppose he is remarkable in that he is remembered more for being beaten than he was for winning,” said Meade.
“That Champion Hurdle defeat, people remember him for that more than anything else. But he was always a strong traveller in his races and jumped very well, which was a big thing.
“It is what it is and you often think about it again and think if something was done different, maybe he could have won. I always stood by Paul and still do – and he did what he thought was right on the day. It’s hard to watch now even.
“I was stood alongside Dessie Hughes and when they jumped the last, Dessie tapped me on the back and said well done – and of course his horse stayed on. The other two horses were very strong battlers, both Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca were very tough.”
It was en route to that famous reversal when Meade believed Harchibald was at his very best, reeling in former Champion Hurdle victor Rooster Booster to claim the first of two Christmas Hurdles he would win at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Meade added: “The time he beat Rooster Booster at Kempton, I was watching at Leopardstown and stood next to Frank Berry and Rooster Booster went half a furlong in front and we were watching it wondering were we going to get there – and of course we did. That was very exciting and one I remember well.
“I think that was the year he was at his peak, although extraordinary enough, his piece of work he did before the Champion Hurdle that year at Navan on very soft ground was very poor. It was about 10 or 12 days before the race, but on the good ground at Cheltenham, he was a different proposition.”
No Harchibald story is complete without a word for Carberry, the man who partnered the gelding more than other and perhaps the only one to eclipse Meade’s love of the brilliant bay hurdler.
Carberry was on board for Harchibald’s biggest victories, but also in some of his most cruel defeats and Meade will always remember the jockey’s answer to a question posed after the 8-11 favourite had failed to conquer Straw Bear in the 2007 Christmas Hurdle.
“Paul absolutely adored Harchibald, he just loved him,” said Meade.
“I will never forget when he got beat in the Christmas Hurdle by Straw Bear, with AP riding, and he was beaten a head.
“Paul never hit him and I wasn’t there, I was in Leopardstown, so the following day I said to him ‘would you not have hit him just once?’.
“And Paul looked at me, and there was a tear in his eye as he said ‘why would I hit him, he was doing his best’. I will never forget him saying that to me.
Harchibald ridden by Paul Carberry (right) on route to winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (PA).
“He was very good on a flat track and Paul felt he just didn’t get home on a stiff track. He was very good at Newcastle and he was very good at Kempton.
“He won at both of those tracks twice and he won at Punchestown, which is flat enough too, he just struggled to get home when the track was a bit stiffer. He did win the International at Cheltenham though, which was a Grade Two.”
Harchibald would correct the record when winning the Christmas Hurdle for the second time in 2008, with his final career success followed by retirement in November the following year.
However, before time was called, Harchibald was given one start over fences, when he finished second to Sizing Europe, leaving his handler to wonder if connections should have pursued options over the larger obstacles sooner.
Meade said: “In the end, he did have one go over fences and I was always a bit worried about putting him over fences because he was so brave. But he jumped brilliant and I was a bit sorry we didn’t put him over fences earlier.
“He used to get a problem behind when he would run in soft and sticky ground, where he would pull a ligament behind and go lame on us, and that was always a problem. But it was probably a pity that we didn’t try him over fences earlier.”
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Noel Meade’s Cheltenham Festival runner-up Affordale Fury made a successful switch to fences at Galway on Sunday.
A silver medallist at a huge 150-1 in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle back in March, he was also runner-up to Gaelic Warrior in the Grade One Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and was an exciting chasing debutant in the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Beginners Chase.
Sent off the 4-6 favourite, Affordale Fury’s jockey Sam Ewing positioned his mount hot on the heels of chief market rival and Grade Two-winning hurdler Favori De Champdou throughout and having matched strides at the final obstacle, the five-year-old’s abundant stamina took over in the run for home.
Although Favori De Champdou refused to lie down, Affordale Fury stayed on all the way to the finish to register a one-and-a-half-length success following a satisfactory round of jumping.
Meade said: “It is a bit of a relief as in beginners’ chases you never know what will happen. He was very good, though, and those ex-point-to-pointers are well schooled. We brought him to the Curragh a few weeks ago and he was really, really good.
“He would like a little nicer ground than that and got tired in the end, but he didn’t get as tired as the others.”
Affordale Fury is now set for a rise in class.
Meade added: “Where I’d love to be is in Leopardstown over Christmas for the Grade One novice over three miles. We’ll enter him for the Drinmore in between, but might instead run in the Grade Two Florida Pearl (at Punchestown) instead.”
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Noel Meade appears to have a potential Classic contender on his hands after Caught U Looking powered home to secure top honours in the Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh.
Sixth on her debut at the track in late June, the daughter of Harzand showed the benefit of that initial experience when bolting up by six lengths on her second start at Leopardstown.
The youngster had not been seen since that runaway victory two months ago, but proved her worth stepped up to Group Three level in the hands of Ben Coen.
Always travelling well on the outside of the field, Caught U Looking went through the gears quickly when asked for her effort to pick up 9-4 favourite Sakti and prevail by half a length.
Caught U Looking 👀
The Group 1-entered daughter of Harzand created quite an impression at Leopardstown and she's taken the rise in class in her stride.@tuvastables has a filly that might just be heading to the top!@curraghrace | @BenCoen2pic.twitter.com/EIat2NbC8q
Paddy Power gave the winner an introductory quote of 33-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
Meade said: “That’s super. Obviously after she won so easy in Leopardstown there was plenty of interest in her. Tony O’Callaghan and Peter (Kelly), who bred her, own her and despite all the horses he has, Tony wasn’t for selling. He just wanted to keep her and said to roll the dice and see how she goes.
“Obviously there is a little bit of pressure on when you do that. Peter was happy enough to do that as well.
“She’s a good filly and she’s a filly that will improve because she’s a Harzand. She’s going to be better next year, and is probably a mile-and-a-half filly.”
Winning trainer Noel Meade was all smiles at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA)
He added: “I hope we can keep her. You keep hoping she can get up to the top, I know she only just won but obviously Ger (Lyons, trainer of Sakti) thinks quite a lot of his and you are always running against something decent from Ballydoyle. It’s hard to win a stakes race in Ireland.
“Everything is open now and we can dream a bit now. I put her in the Guineas the other day and we’ll enter her in the Oaks as well.
“She’s in the Fillies’ Mile next month but I wouldn’t imagine that will happen now, we’ll wait and let her mature.”
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Noel Meade is excited to see his promising juvenile Catch U Looking return to action in the Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
Sixth behind subsequent Group Three winner Ylang Ylang on her debut, the daughter of Harzand opened her account in some style at the second time of asking when powering five lengths clear of her toiling rivals at Leopardstown.
Caught U Looking, who holds a Group One entry in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket in mid-October, has not been seen since that dominant success two months ago, but has been pleasing her trainer at home ahead of this weekend’s Group Three assignment.
“She had a little bit of a dirty nose and we just got held up so I had to wait until now,” said Meade.
“I think she’s in good shape and I’d be expecting a good run.”
Another Meade runner who will head to the Curragh with claims this weekend is Jesse Evans, who is due to contest the Friends Of The Curragh Irish Cesarewitch.
The seven-year-old has won his last two races on the Flat, with a narrow defeat to Zarak The Brave in the Galway Hurdle sandwiched in between.
Meade is keen for him to line up in the €600,000 showpiece, even if conditions may not be ideal.
He added: “The ground is the danger, if it gets very soft that might be a problem, but we’ll run anyway as it’s worth a lot of money.”
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Layfayette served a reminder of his quality as he bounced back to his very best to land the Fitzdares Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh.
Noel Meade’s six-year-old was winning for the ninth time and it was perhaps unsurprising that he left a couple of lacklustre recent showings in the past at the scene of some of his finest hours.
Held up in rear in the early stages by Colin Keane, the son of French Navy began to make some stylish progress as the runners straightened for home and as the final furlong approached the 7-2 chance had the front-running Unless in his sights.
Aidan O’Brien’s Justify filly refused to lie down, but it was Layfayette who held all the momentum and surged ahead of the 15-8 favourite to register a going-away three-quarters of a length victory in the Group Three contest, with the stable’s Helvic Dream also staying on for third.
Meade said: “I was disappointed in Naas, but he had to get some treatment on his back and he needed time off and just got stuffy. He blew up in Naas. I know that was over a mile and a half which stretches him a bit, but he’s an older horse and takes a bit of work.
“He loves this place. He loves the long straight and this place and Naas suits him well. In Group Twos and Group Threes he’s very competitive.
Layfayette and Colin Keane on the way to victory (Niall Carson/PA)
“He’ll probably go for the mile-and-a-half race on Champions Weekend in Leopardstown if there is an ease in the ground.
“Gary (Carroll) said that Helvic Dream gave him a great feel and moved well. We might try and stretch him out to a mile and a half because later in the year on the ground that he wants there are not that many races over a mile and a quarter.
“There horses are very hard to find, you don’t come across them too often for reasonable money.”
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Noel Meade feels soft ground is key to the chances of ante-post favourite Thedevilscoachman in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has won three of his six starts over fences to date, supplementing four victories from six outings over hurdles.
His only defeat in four chase appearances so far this season came in December’s Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse when falling at the final fence, since when he has registered back-to-back Grade Three victories at Naas and Limerick.
He carries a 2lb penalty for the latter success a fortnight ago and Meade is hopeful he can make his presence felt if conditions are suitable and he can overcome a perceived lack of experience.
“Everything is good at the moment, we’re just hoping the ground doesn’t dry up too much,” he said.
“Everything has gone good since he won in Limerick. He’s still only a novice and he has to overcome that. He hasn’t had that many runs over fences, but we’re hopeful.
“He certainly stays three miles well. You don’t really know about three-mile-five until you have a go so we’ll see, but hopefully he will stay.”
Thedevilscoachman is one of three runners for Meade, who won the 2002 Irish Grand National with The Bunny Boiler.
Lieutenant Command and Farceur Du Large are both outsiders for Gigginstown House Stud, but Meade believes it would be dangerous to dismiss them, adding: “They’re definitely not out of it.
Trainer Noel Meade will saddle three runners in the Irish Grand National (Niall Carson/PA)
“Lieutenant Command wants good ground and the better the ground, the better the chance he’ll have. Again the trip is a bit of an unknown with him, but he’s a fine horse and if we get good ground he’ll certainly give a good account of himself.
“Farceur Du Large was running a good race in the Paddy Power Chase in Leopardstown over Christmas and then made a mistake which put him out of it.
“He unshipped Bryan (Cooper) at the first the last day and it’s hard to get that of your head, but he’s still a horse who could run well if things go his way.”
Sam Curling’s Angels Dawn and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Stumptown renew rivalry after being separated by only a neck when first and second in the Kim Muir at last month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Angels Dawn leads Stumptown at the final fence at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
Curling said: “She came out of Cheltenham well and we’ve been happy with her since, so all is good.
“They’re giving a bit of rain tonight, so you’d hope the ground will be soft and there’s plenty in our favour hopefully.
“For a small yard like ours, it’s great to have a runner in an Irish Grand National with a chance and we’re looking forward to it.”
The powerhouse stables of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are well represented, with Mullins saddling I Am Maximus, Tenzing and Dolcita, while Chemical Energy and The Goffer are two of eight for Elliott.
I Am Maximus finished fourth in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and he was subsequently bought by JP McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “He ran well at Cheltenham. He’s still a maiden (over fences) but it’s a good race for novices and Willie is very happy with him. We’re hoping to see a good run in what is a very competitive race.”
Other leading hopes include Martin Brassil’s Panda Boy, Henry de Bromhead’s Amirite and Barry Connell’s Espanito Bello, while Joseph O’Brien has a couple of chances in Fire Attack and Busselton.
He said: “Fire Attack would love soft ground whereas Busselton is seen to best effect on slightly better ground, but he’s been a very consistent horse.
“Fire Attack has had a couple of falls. He’s actually a good jumper, but he’s made a couple of silly mistakes and fell in the Kerry National.
“He’s been a little bit unlucky, but he’s threatened to win a big race and I think he will when things fall his way.”
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