A four-timer at Naas last Saturday stretched Noel Meade's lead over Frances Crowley in the race for the trainers' title.
However, a jumping season that ends in mid-summer has somehow never made much sense and one task for the new ruling body, Horse Ireland, when the legislation finally brings it into existence, should be to return this title race span to the calendar year.
In the meantime, though, Meade will surely keep pushing on and he have two more winners at Downpatrick this afternoon when Frances Crowley is without a runner.
His Neath Native Sky (1-40) is napped to improve on her weekend run at Naas, where, in the opener, Meade had played for safety by running her as well as his successful favourite, Harbour Pilot. She never threatened any heart failure on those who had backed the favourite, but from the turn into the straight, she was always looks second best.
The second Meade winner could be Woodys Blue Lagoon (3-40) to defy an 18month absence. When trained by Colin McKeever, he showed plenty of early promise and was third to Champagne Native and Just Two at Naas.
