Very Big Task for Aran Noel Meade admits Aran Concerto has plenty on his plate as he returns to Grade One company for the first time in over two years in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The eight-year-old won three of his five starts over hurdles, including two Grade One races, but then spent some 20 months on the sidelines with injury. The son of Zaffaran appeared to be as good as ever when making a winning start to his fencing career at Navan in November but he has not been seen since, leaving Meade concerned about his gelding's lack of chasing experience. "It's a Grade One and probably one of the best novice chases of the year so you would expect it to be a very good race," said Meade. "I'm very happy with my horse but obviously it is a very big task for him as he has only had one run over fences and only one run in an awful long time. "I would have loved to run him a month ago but he wasn't ready in time and I would have loved to run him at Navan a couple of weeks ago but the ground had just quickened up. "So we've ended up coming straight here and while it is a big ask for him, I couldn't be happier with everything he has done at home. "Assuming the ground is all right I hope he will go to Punchestown after this but lets just take one race at a time. "It's been a long haul back for him and if he gets over Fairyhouse and Punchestown fine and we can keep him right, hopefully we can have a full season with him next year."
