Carberry Worry For Meade

Aran Concerto could be without his regular pilot Paul Carberry in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday as the jockey battles to recover from an injured foot.

Carberry has guided the imposing six-year-old to three faultless victories ? including two at Grade One level ? but trainer Noel Meade is facing the possibility of his stable jockey not being available for what many see as the ?banker' for the Irish raiding party.

Meade said: 'Paul is the same as he was and we will leave it as long as possible before ruling him out.

'It is looking iffy and I have given a replacement jockey a lot of thought, but haven't come to any decisions.'

Meade also confirmed that Aran Concerto would 'definitely' contest the Ballymore rather than the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, while Sweet Wake will take his chance in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

(C) PA Sport