Meade eyes Leopardstown for Listed winner Affordale Fury Affordale Fury, 8/11 favourite, took the honours in the Listed Racing TV Club Day Steeplechase at Thurles after three runner-up berths in a row. The final fence was omitted due to the stricken Salvador Ziggy who fell there first time around. This led to a very lengthy run-in for the remaining five runners. Affordale Fury and Donagh Meyler led into the straight in this 2m 6f assignment, however, Paul Townend was in the process of riding a patient race aboard Appreciate It who looked the danger just in behind passing the bypassed last. To his credit, Affordale Fury kept finding and was strong in the finish in winning by just under five lengths from the 10/3 runner-up. Noel Meade said: "He has been a little unlucky and one day at Fairyhouse last February he made a bad mistake at the last and lost. "Last year we had planned in running in the Irish National and again this year we had the same plan, but they changed the qualifying rules. He had to have four runs so we started him back in Gowran (in October), but he picked up a penalty for finishing second and picked up a further 7lb for finishing second to Envoi Allen in the north, so effectively that put him out of handicaps. "The Ladbrokes Trophy in Newbury had been in my mind, but this race was made for him and I'm not sorry we didn't travel. Today is only his sixth run over fences and I'll play it by ear now, but his next run could be in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas." Sean Flanagan was stood down for the rest of the day after his fall on Salvador Ziggy. Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
