LeopardstownRacecourse

LeopardstownRacecourse

Ipsos Du Berlais6yo gelding by Poliglote ex. Isis Du BerlaisA Grade 1-placed novice hurdler last season, he looks like a strong-staying novice chaser in the making. He finished second to the high-class Lyreen Legend on his chasing debut at Galway in October and is sure to improve from that. In the longer term, he could be one for the four mile novice chase at the Chelten-ham Festival. Setback,

Dylan Ross6yo gelding by Shantou ex. Quit The NoiseA talented performer that was Grade 1-placed in novice hurdle company last season, he has been sent chasing this season. De-spite falling on his chasing debut, he bounced back by finishing a promising second to the talented Jenari at Naas in October and following that up with a comfortable win in a 2m maiden chase at Navan in November. He should continue to progress and will be a contender for the 2m 1f Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

NOEL MEADE: Horses to follow

LeopardstownRacecourse

Pandorama9yo gelding by Flemensfirth ex. Gretchen’s CastleAn exceptionally talented performer, he was one of the leading novice hurdlers in Ireland in 2008/9, but was always considered a chaser in the making. He won two Grade 1 novice chases in December 2009, but injury intervened and he was ruled out for the rest of the season. He bounced back from that setback to win the Grade 1 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting in 2010, but suffered another injury in the Cheltenham Gold Cup the following March and has been absent since. He is back in work and the hope is that he will be ready to return to action in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

Options remain open with regard to the trips he tackles, but the 2m 1f Grade 1 at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting is likely to be a target for him

Realt Dubh8yo gelding by Beneficial ex. Suez CanalHasn’t been the luckiest with injuries, but enjoyed a tremendous novice chasing campaign in 2010/11, winning three Grade 1 contests. Injury restricted him to just two starts in 2011/12, but he made an encouraging return to action on his first start over 3m in the JNwine.com Champion Chase in November and has since run creditably back over 2m at Navan.

Monksland5yo gelding by Beneficial ex. Cush JewelHad just three starts over hurdles in 2011/2, but established himself as one of the leading novices in Ireland, winning a Grade 2 contest and finishing third in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Initially, the plan was for him to be sent over fences this season, but Meade had a change of heart and started him back over hurdles in Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal in November, with him recording an impressive success. The Hatton’s Grace Hurdle is his next target and he could well make up into a Grade 1 hurdler at around 2m 4f.

Sword of Destiny6yo gelding by Shantou ex. Sparkling SwordThe winner of a bumper and a Grade 3 novice hurdle, he has always looked like a chaser in the making and he made a very promising start over the larger obstacles at Punchestown in October. He looked set to prevail only to jump the final fence awkwardly and lose out to the unbeaten Buckers Bridge. He

gained compensation for that when winning a maiden chase at Na-van in November and is likely to be a serious contender for the 3m Grade 1 novice chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.