Passion Down In Grade At Naas Cheltenham Festival hopeful Wild Passion takes a drop in class as he lines up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Naas tomorrow. The six-year-old finished second in a Grade Two chase before following home Missed That in a Grade One event at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Trainer Noel Meade was not totally satisfied with Wild Passion´s jumping that day so he has elected to run the horse in a lower grade rather than school him at home ahead of another big-race assignment. 'He goes to Naas as I just felt a run might be better for him than a good school,' he said. 'We just want to get him to concentrate a little bit more on his jumping. 'He ran a good race last time, but we felt he just didn´t jump as well as he could so this race would be as good as giving him a school before the Irish Arkle (at Leopardstown on January 29), which is his next target. 'There´s a couple in there, McGruders Cross and Arteea, that are pretty good, but if he puts his best foot forward, he should have a good chance.' Wild Passion, who finished second in the Supreme Novices´ Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, is a general 16-1 chance for the Arkle Trophy at this season´s Cheltenham Festival.(C) PA Sport
