Concerto hoping to return with a bang

Noel Meade is hoping Aran Concerto can make a Lazarus-like return in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Injuries prevented the son of Zaffaran from achieving his full potential after a scintillating start to his career.

His finest moment came in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in 2009 but the victory there was tainted after he suffered a hock injury.

The gelding failed to find his form after that and was retired following a fall at Cork just over a year ago.

Meade decided to give his charge another chance, however, when impressed by his condition last Christmas.

“He's in good shape and is coming along well,” said Meade at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

“He had retired and was out in the field but on Christmas day I went out and had a look at him and thought he was in great shape. So we brought him in the next day and started him off again.

“He was very good but had problems with his hocks. When he won the Powers Gold Cup here he knocked the tendon off the other hock having done the other one the previous year.

“It might be a shot in the dark but he's well. In fairness the handicapper has given him a chance. He's dropped 5lb which is nice but with an old horse like him, that's had trouble, it's difficult to get them back."

Meade could have three runners in the marathon contest with Fisher Bridge and Oscar Looby also possibles to line up.

“Fisher will definitely run as it's been the plan all along since he went close in the Munster National,” added the Navan handler.

“He likes good ground and I think he'll stay. He has a good chance.

“Looby is probably better in small fields but he has a low weight and quite possibly could run also.”

Meade claimed the historic race back in 2002 with The Bunny Boiler and rates it among his finest achievements.

“The day I won the National was one of the best of my life.

“It's a race that has so much history and I got a great kick out of it.”

Gary Carson