Noel Meade's Please Talk and Jim Cullotty's Lord Windermere impressed at Punchestown on Sunday earning quotes for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Please Talk looks Supreme
Jim Culloty has a potentially smart recruit in Lord Windermere who outpointed Dylan Ross in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.
Tom Doyle was at his strongest on the lightly-raced five-year-old, who got the better of the evens favourite by a head after a prolonged duel.
"He's improving with every run and he's a slow learner. He's a big chaser and he's got an engine. He's in the Grade One novice hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas but that might come a bit soon for him," said Culloty.
"We'll find a race for him in February and that will decide which route he goes.
"Whatever he does he'll go novice chasing next October."
Lord Windermere is 33-1 with Stan James for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Please Talk
Please Talk earned quotes of 20-1 for the Supreme Novices' and 16-1 for the Neptune Novices' Hurdle after justifying strong market support in the 2012 Annual Membership Maiden Hurdle.
Backed down from 4-1 to 5-2 favourite, he pulled away from the opposition in some style in the straight to easily put the race to bed.
The five-year-old, owned by JP McManus and trained by Noel Meade, was eased down close home by jockey Paul Carberry as he defeated Not For Converting by four and three-quarter lengths.
"He's a lovely horse, a gorgeous horse. From the first minute I saw him down in John Halley's I loved him," said Meade.
"Thank God I ended up with him! Whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus as chasing is his game. He has a really good pedigree, he loves soft ground and he stays well.
"He'll go for a novice hurdle in about a month's time. I was very disappointed he got beaten in his bumper the first day at Fairyhouse. He ran a bit flat. Maybe the ground was a bit quick for him."
