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Iktitaf Primed For Return

Iktitaf, one of a number of Supreme Novices´ Hurdle hopes for Noel Meade, heads a list of nine entries in the Grade Two Byrne Group Plc Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

The five-year-old, who was last seen winning the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December, missed the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown earlier this month due to a minor setback.

'Iktitaf runs on Sunday and is 100%,' confirmed Meade, whose charge is a leading contender in the Anglo Irish Bank-sponsored feature at the Cheltenham Festival.

'When he came home from England he was OK - he didn´t really get held up at all. He possibly could have run, but we couldn´t take our chance with him at the time.

'He´s in good shape anyway.'

Tommy Stack´s recent Cork winner Tolpuddle and the John Carr-trained Sublimity look big dangers in a potentially hot event, as does John Kiely´s Ceeawayhome after registering convincing back-to-back victories at Cork and Punchestown.

Meade has also entered Masrahi, who was last seen finishing a disappointing 24th in the Pierse Hurdle.

Mounthenry, a three-time winner over hurdles this term, Mise En Place, Quel Doun and Thyne Again complete the field at the five-day stage.

(C) PA Sport

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