Colcannon proves a lunchtime treat at Fairyhouse The opener at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday was the Ryan's Cleaning Maiden Hurdle over two miles and classy bumper performer Colcannon (5/2) got off the mark on his fourth start over flights.  Having tracked the leaders, Donagh Meyler's mount cruised into the lead before the second-last and quickly settled matters. He paddled through the last but was ridden out to beat Brother Walfrid by three and three-quarter lengths. Winning trainer Noel Meade said of the Philip Meade Syndicate-owned six-year-old “To be honest he’s been very disappointing up until now.   “I’d say ground is a lot to do with it and when he gets it a bit quicker he’ll be even better.  “On what he did last year you’d be kind of expecting him to be one of the top horses around this year but his couple of runs have been very disappointing. “It’s taken him a while to learn how to jump as well. The reason he spent a second season in bumpers was because he was such a poor jumper.  “He’s just getting the hang of it now. The last was the only mistake, he jumped brilliant up until that.  “Donagh was saying the ground made a huge difference to him. We’ll be able to continue on with him for the summer.  “I’d imagine he’ll go to Punchestown, maybe fora winners race rather than the big one. We’ll probably try a Flat race with him as well.”  When asked if he could be a Galway Hurdle horse, he added “You never know, he’d have a bit to go to get to the Galway Hurdle but you never know.  “He’s certainly a much better horse on quicker ground.”   Additional reporting by Gary Carson
