Aran lights up Easter.AFTER a sedate Saturday, the Bank Holiday weekend kicked into life yesterday with Aran Concerto the undoubted star of the show on day one of Fairyhouse's Easter Festival. His trainer Noel Meade has long been of the opinion the eight-yearold could be the best horse he has ever trained, but after winning twice in Grade One company over hurdles he was forced to spend some 20 months on the sidelines On the sidelines An investor who decides not to invest due to market uncertainty. on the sidelines Of or relating to investors who, having assessed the market, have decided to avoid committing their funds. with injury. He made the tentative first steps back with a comfortable chasing debut success at Navan back in November, and was a 7-2 chance to make a winning return to the highest level in the Powers Gold Cup. The Zaffaran gelding was settled towards the rear by Paul Carberry but some fine leaps down the back straight ensured he was on the heels of the leaders turning for home. Long-time leader Deutschland was still in front approaching the final fence but Aran Concerto jumped up to join him and after a titanic tussle on the runin, Meade's charge was a short head to the good at the line. Barker stayed on to fill the runner-up spot, with Deutschland a creditable third. William Hill make the winner 50-1 for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race in the United Kingdom for five-year-old and above horses. It is run over a distance of 3 miles 2½ furlongs (5,331 metres) on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse during the Cheltenham Festival in March. but more immediate plans to go to Punchestown were on hold after the race. Meade said: ''Paul thought when he pulled up that he might be lame behind. He's a little bit stiff but it's not as bad as I thought. "He hasn't moved the tendon off the hock hock: see wine. again or anything like that. "I hope that it is just a bit of an overstretch o·ver·stretch v. 1. To stretch one's body or muscles to the point of strain or injury. 2. To stretch or extend over. more than anything. ''But he must be a hell of a horse to come out and win like that on just his second run back. He has so much scope, he could jump two fences as well as one. He jumped brilliantly. ''Obviously we will have to see how he is but the plan was to go to Punchestown for the three-miler. "That was the plan anyway but we'll see how he is." CAPTION(S): ALL SMILES: Winning trainer Noel Meade, winning jockey Paul Carberry along with owners and trainers celebrate with Aran Concerto who won the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion