RACING: Zum See's easy success at Naas yesterday was a form boost for the star novice Sadlers Wings but Noel Meade is convinced that the winner has Cheltenham hopes of his own.
The champion trainer nominated the Supreme Novices' Hurdle as a possible target after Zum See's two-length defeat of Corrib Boy in the novice hurdle.
"I've always thought he was good enough to go and good ground would suit as he has loads of toe," he said. Cashmans reacted by cutting Zum See to 14 to 1 for the festival opener.
Sadlers Wings was 13 lengths ahead of the Meade horse at Navan last month but Zum See was not right that day.
"I know Sadlers Wings is very good but Paul (Carberry) said our horse just stopped dead and afterwards when we tried to scope him we couldn't even get it down him.
"He has scoped badly in the past, at Punchestown last season and here, but we've put him on a totally different treatment and it seems to be working," said Meade whose festival team could number as many a nine.
"Mark The Man and Watson Lake worked after racing on Saturday with Rosaker (Stayers') and Harbour Pilot (Gold Cup.) I was happy with them and if the ground was right, I'd be for sending Mark The Man to Cheltenham. Mind you he would want it soft and there doesn't look to be much chance of that.
"We also have Harchibald (County Hurdle), Strong Run (Grand Annual) and the two in the Triumph (Power Elite and Wild Passion,)" he added.
The Grand National winner Monty's Pass finished eighth in the race and remains unchanged at 16 to 1 for an Aintree repeat.
Dessie Hughes faces an anxious week before deciding if his 40 to 1 Champion Hurdle outsider Hardy Eustace will run in the championship or instead wait for the following day's Coral Cup.
"If Rhinestone Cowboy runs in the Coral we could run too as our horse would have 11st. If he doesn't we would have topweight. We will have to wait until closer to declaration time," he said.
Green Peach is the latest of the Willie Mullins bumper team to score impressively but he is one horse that won't be travelling to Cheltenham.
"He's not qualified. We've run out of time. That's why we were so disappointed when Clonmel was called off recently," Mullins said after the odds-on shot beat Giolla De.
"He's always shown us a lot and he looks a chaser. We'll look at Fairyhouse and Punchestown."
Favourite backers knew their fate straight away in the novice chase as Anxious Moments took a crashing fall at the first.
Robbie Power knew little about it as he was at the front on Emperors Guest and the outsider of the field stayed there throughout to beat Camden Tanner by eight lengths.
"Mick Kinane rode him on the flat and told us never to put him behind horses again. Just jump and go. Robbie was adamant he was going to make it and the tactics worked," said Paddy Mullins's son Tom who had to explain the horse's improved form to the stewards.
It wasn't a good day all round for favourites as Houdunnit, the market leader for the handicap chase, returned with a nasal discharge.
With him tailed off it was The Moyne Machine who bounded clear on the run in to score from Jack Ross.
Michael O'Brien withdrew two horses on the day because of lung infections but that didn't stop Forget The Past starting a warm favourite for the maiden.
Ruby Walsh's mount was beaten before the last, however, as Dublin Hunter stayed on well under Paddy Flood.
