Wood looking to shine in Pearl Cheltenham Festival hero Very Wood bids to make it two from two over fences in the Dobbins Outdoor Catering Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. The five-year-old was a shock 33-1 winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park in March, but disappointed on his final appearance of the season at the Punchestown Festival. He bounced back to form on his return to action, however, jumping well in the main on his way to making a winning start over the larger obstacles at Galway last month. Trainer Noel Meade said: "He was good in Galway and did it well. He's never going to go and win very easy as he's a lazy sort of horse, but we were happy with him on the day. "He's been good at home since, this is a good race and we'll see how we go." Very Wood is one of three runners for Gigginstown House Stud in a six-strong field, with Michael O'Leary's operation also represented by the Willie Mullins-trained Security Breach and Thunder And Roses from Dessie Hughes' yard. Mullins also saddles Indevan, who since his disappointing chase debut at Kilbeggan in June has notched a hat-trick of successes, most recently striking impressively in the Grade Three Like A Butterfly Novice Chase at Tipperary. Speaking on his website www.wpmullins.com, the champion trainer said: "Indevan was really good on his last couple of runs and is a course winner. He will like the trip but would possibly prefer better ground. "Security Breach will love this ground and trip but his hurdle form suggests he may not be up to this." Shanahan's Turn was a useful hurdler for Henry de Bromhead last season, but looks sure to scale greater heights over the larger obstacles judged on his foot perfect debut over fences at Punchestown almost three weeks ago. De Bromhead said: "He won nicely there on his last run and jumped well for his first run over fences. "We'll step him up now and see if he can progress. We're still learning about him. "The ground might not be ideal for him, but he won his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown in soft ground, so hopefully he'll handle conditions." Lots Of Memories finished ahead of Shanahan's Turn, Very Wood and Thunder And Roses when third behind Beat That at Punchestown in the spring and was only narrowly denied on his first foray over the bigger obstacles at Cork recently. Trainer Paul Fahey said: "He was the highest-rated horse in this race over hurdles and we're looking forward to running him. "He had a nice first run over fences in Cork. He missed a couple of fences on the way round but it was a good run. "We couldn't get much schooling into him before that as the ground was too quick, but he's schooled well since and we were pleased with the way he jumped earlier in the week. "He isn't really ground dependent and we're hoping for the best.
