Monday 2 November 2015 20:13, UK
Trainer Noel Meade is keen to avoid stable stars Road To Riches and Apache Stronghold crossing paths in the early part of the new campaign.
The County Meath maestro is reconsidering his options for Cheltenham Gold Cup third Road To Riches after owners Gigginstown House Stud decided against letting him defend his crown in Saturday's JNwine.com Champion Chase, instead choosing to field the impressive Don Cossack in the Down Royal feature.
The Clonmel Oil Chase on Thursday is a potential alternative, but that Grade Two event is also an option for Apache Stronghold, who has not been seen since finishing third at Punchestown in the spring.
The John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in early December is also on the radar for both horses.
"Road To Riches in great form, but they (Gigginstown) decided to run Don Cossack and we had to take a back seat," said Meade.
"Bryan (Cooper) rode him in a bit of work at the Curragh the previous Saturday over a mile and a furlong and he worked really well. He was ready to run on Saturday.
"It looks like Don Cossack is going to go for the King George and we'll go for the Lexus. He'll also get an entry in the King George.
"We'll look at races like the Morris Oil at Clonmel and the Durkan. Ger Fox rides him out at home and thinks he's a stronger horse this year.
"He had a very hard race at Cheltenham. It was as tough a race as you could imagine. They were flat out from the top of the hill and I'm not surprised he disappointed after at Punchestown."
Apache Stronghold had been pencilled for Saturday's Powers Irish Whiskey Chase at Down Royal before suffering a setback.
Meade said: "He was due to run at Down Royal, but he gave himself a wrap and missed about a week.
"It's quite possible that he could look at the the Morris Oil or the Durkan, but ideally I don't want to run him and Road To Riches in the same race.
"I think he gets three miles and we'll probably run him in the Lexus and see how he gets on. Down the road the Ryanair Chase is an obvious target at Cheltenham, if he shows us he's not getting the three miles.
"Paul (Carberry) came back in after he finished second at Cheltenham last season and said he ran very well, but the other fellow (Vautour) is a machine."
Meade worked around a dozen horses in front of the gathered media on Monday morning.
Wounded Warrior, placed at Cheltenham and Punchestown last spring, was due to be part of the contingent strutting their stuff, but has suffered a setback.
"He was cast in his box last week," said the trainer.
"He's a huge horse and I've always thought the world of him. He could improve a lot and he wants a trip on soft ground.
"I tried to get Michael (O'Leary) to enter him in the Hennessy at Newbury, but he wouldn't have it. He's a really good horse."
Wounded Warrior's a huge horse and I've always thought the world of him. He could improve a lot and he wants a trip on soft ground. I tried to get Michael (O'Leary) to enter him in the Hennessy at Newbury, but he wouldn't have it. He's a really good horse.
Texas Jack was last of four behind Don Cossack on Saturday and is set for a drop in trip, with the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in less than a fortnight in the melting pot.
Meade said: "Saturday proved once and for all that he doesn't stay three miles. He was travelling really well again and just didn't get home.
"He'll go back to two and a half miles. He's in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham and it will be interesting to see what weight he gets."
Meade also revealed Very Wood, not seen since disappointing when favourite for Cheltenham's National Hunt Chase, remains on the sidelines.
"He knocked a joint when we were getting him ready for the Irish National. It got infected and it's taking a long time to get it right," he said.
"He's a horse with plenty of ability, but his form was in and out last season and he can be a bit of a funny character. Training him can be as much mental as physical."
There was better news of Mullaghanoe River, however, who having missed the whole of last season, is closing in on a comeback.
Meade said: "He was going very well when he fell in the Irish National last year and I think he would have been involved at the finish.
"With a bit of luck he'll start off in the Troytown and maybe on to the Paddy Power at Leopardstown at Christmas. He wants three miles or three-mile-plus and could turn out to be anything.
"He had problems with his jumping, but he had trouble with a hind leg that was causing him pain and I think as a result of that, it caused him to miss out the odd fence."
Monksland is set to make his seasonal reappearance in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
Despite an absence of exactly two years, the eight-year-old ran good races in defeat last season, placing in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown before being touched off by Dedigout in in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran in January.
Monksland was unable to land a blow in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but Meade is pleased with his current condition.
He said: "The plan is to start him off in the Lismullen Hurdle. I'm very happy with him at the moment. I'm always afraid to say anything about this horse as every time he ran last year something happened.
"We've been swimming him a lot and that seems to be working well. To be honest, to do as well as he did last season, with all the problems he had, he must be some horse.
"It's possible that he could still go over fences."
Meade expects last year's Punchestown Champion Bumper runner-up Disko to take high rank in the novice hurdle division this season, despite suffering an odds-on defeat on his debut over obstacles at Galway recently.
"I think the ground was a bit too quick for him at Galway, especially over two miles," said the County Meath handler.
"He'll be a better horse next time and I'll be very disappointed if he's not up with the best of them this year. He'll go for a maiden hurdle at one of the bigger tracks like Navan or Punchestown."
Snow Falcon has a consistent profile, having only finished out of the first three twice from 10 starts.
The five-year-old got back on the winning trail at Naas on Sunday and is set for a step up in class.
Meade said: "He jumped moderately at Naas and he really frightened me with the mistake he made at the second-last.
"He lacks a gear, but gallops forever and we'll probably aim him at the three-mile race at Leopardstown at Christmas (Christmas Hurdle)."
