Update on Meade team

The County Meath handler reports the preparation for the stayers' championship to have gone well since the six-year-old won the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas.

"Everything's okay with him and it's all gone to plan so far," said Meade.

"We'll have to cope with whatever the ground is.

"I'm more worried about getting there than the ground!"

Meade will have at least three other runners at jumps racing's premier fixture.

"I'm going to run Road To Riches in the Albert Bartlett, Busty Brown probably in the same race, and Il Fenomeno in the County Hurdle."

One of Meade's stable stars who will not be travelling across the Irish Sea next week is Texas Jack.

He will bypass the Jewson Novices' Chase and may wait for the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on March 31, although Meade has given him an entry at Naas on Sunday.

"He's staying at home. I think we will be going for the Powers Gold Cup. We did enter him on Sunday in a Grade Three race at Naas, but he probably wont run until the Powers Gold Cup," said Meade.

"I haven't made my mind up about it yet."