Meade bemused by Very Wood's effort Noel Meade is at a loss to explain Cheltenham Festival hero Very Wood's abject display at Punchestown on Sunday. The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle winner was a hot favourite for the Grade Two Florida Pearl Novice Chase, having made a victorious start to his career over fences at Galway at the end of October. However, he was in trouble a long way out in the hands of Bryan Cooper, who eventually pulled the Gigginstown-owned five-year-old up at the top of the home straight. Meade said: "The vet checked him out after the race and he seemed fine. "He blew a bit for a horse that was pulled up, but we scoped him and that's come back clean, so it's all a bit of a mystery. "The horses are in good form and I was very happy with him going into the race. "To be honest, if you'd asked me going into the weekend what my best chance of a winner was I would have said him, but, for whatever reason, he had an off-day. "He definitely won't run in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse (on Sunday week) and while I haven't spoken with Eddie (O'Leary, Gigginstown Stud manager) in detail about plans yet I would say we'll wait until Christmas and run him then."
