Meade Glory Run Continues

Muirhead maintained his unbeaten record as he struck for the all-conquering Noel Meade yard in the Bar-One Racing Royal Bond Novices Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Meade was on the mark with Harchibald in Newcastle's 'Fighting Fifth' Hurdle on Saturday and stablemate Muirhead kept the ball rolling with another Grade One success for the handler.

The 4-1 shot looked set for defeat approaching the last as Champion Bumper winner Cork All Star was two lengths clear and still looked to have something in the tank.

However, Cork All Star crashed through the final flight, losing his backend on landing, to let Paul Carberry seize the initiative on Muirhead.

Although Barry Geraghty tried to get Cork All Star back in contention, Muirhead was kept up to his work to finish a length and three-quarters in front.

Meade said: 'I'd say he'd improve quite a lot, he's a bit light and weak-looking. Jessica's (Harrington) horse made a bad mistake, but I was delighted with our horse.

'He winged the first and I was thrilled with how he travelled after and he was finishing well.

'I don't think he'd take much running, so we'll give him a break and the chance to progress. We were lucky to get him at the sales and it's great for the owners after what happened to Iktitaf.

'We'll wait and see what we do now, but he won't run over Christmas. There's the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown to consider, with the latter the more likely.'

Sky's The Limit put up a fine display of fencing to take the Ballymore Properties Drinmore Novice Chase.

Edward O'Grady's charge drew a blank in his first season as a novice last term, but the former Coral Cup winner showed his class under a good waiting ride from Andrew McNamara.

It looked to be anyone's race at the top of the straight with Kazal, who was making his chasing bow, travelling well.

However, he crashed through the third-last obstacle while the long-time prominent Drunken Disorderly came down at the next fence when trying to renew his challenge.

That left 9-4 favourite Sky's The Limit to cruise home from Be My Leader by four and a half lengths, with Line Ball plugging on for third.

O'Grady said: 'He was a bit disappointing last year but he has improved. He's come back a fresher horse than last year.

'I was a bit worried as he was out the back more than I would have liked, but Andrew said he was always travelling well.

'I would like to consider running him at Christmas, but I will have to discuss running him over three miles with Andrew.'

Paddy Power make Sky's The Limit a 16-1 chance for both the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, but O'Grady has warned the grey is not certain to turn up at Prestbury Park in March.

He added: 'He may go for the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse rather than the Arkle at Cheltenham as there's only two weeks between the two.'

Sweet Kiln suffered a heart-breaking defeat as Aitmatov just got up in the shadow of the post to take the Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

The Michael Bowe-trained mare took up her customary position at the head of affairs, quickly building up a huge advantage over Rosaker with the eventual winner settled in the chasing pack.

Although the field started to reel in Sweet Kiln turning for home, Tom Doyle's mount was still travelling well as Aitmatov powered through and tried to close.

The mare, sent off the 2-1 joint-favourite with Aitmatov, took the last in front but she began to tire in the final few yards.

Doyle tried his best to hold Sweet Kiln together but despite battling bravely, Carberry got a telling thrust out of the Meade-trained Aitmatov to secure a Grade One double for the trainer and jockey team.

(C) PA Sport