Fierce Handay brings up a brace of winners for Meade Fierce Handay was very strong in the market for the novice handicap hurdle on Fairyhouse's card and the support proved well founded as he brought up a double for Noel Meade. From 5/2 yesterday evening, he opened at 15/8 and was backed at all rates down to 11/10 favourite. The five-year-old gelding had shown ability in maiden company before running fourth on handicap debut in a higher grade at Gowran Park last month. He settled in fourth for Mark Walsh, in the J.P. McManus silks, behind front-running Kentucky Beach. The favourite took closer order in third behind Kentucky Beach and Dollar Nolimit at the fourth last. He made a mistake three out but it didn't halt his momentum and he loomed large behind Kentucky Beach two out. Fierce Handay led narrowly on the approach to the last and Walsh drove him him on in the closing stages for a three-and-three-quarter-length victory. Kentucky Beach was booked for second in the latter stages and some 12 lengths clear of Kinturk Nelson (14/1). Each-way players drew a dividend from Dollar Nolimit in fourth at 14/1. Meade took the preceding race with Ben Hur (7/4f). He said: “That’s great. He’s been coming along all the time and he’s just getting a bit better all the time. “He ran a good enough race the last day but he was very free, he seems to have settled a bit better at home. The good gallop was a big help there. “We’ll look for something similar. Mark said to stay at two miles. I thought maybe further would suit him, but he said because he was very free, he wants a good gallop.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
