Meade fires two darts at Leinster National

Noel Meade is looking to De Name Escapes Me and Killer Miller to foil Gordon Elliott’s strong possible team in Sunday’s Toalsbet Leinster National at Naas.

Elliott still has 14 contenders among the 36 entries, with last year’s Irish Grand National winner General Principle leading the way.

However, Meade has two live chances in De Name Escapes Me, who won a decent event at Navan before disappointing at Christmas, and Killer Miller, third over hurdles on his return from 729 days off the track.

Meade said: “The plan at the moment is to run De Name Escapes Me and Killer Miller in the Leinster National. The rain over the last couple of days will be a help for De Name Escapes Me.

“He didn’t partake in Leopardstown at all, I don’t know what the reason was he ran so bad. He is a bit windy about his fences, but the Naas fences are nice fences so hopefully he shows up.

“It has been a struggle with Killer Miller to get him back, but I was happy with his run at Limerick and I think he’s getting back to himself now. It’s been slow but he seems in good order.”

The Elliott-trained Alpha Des Obeaux tops the weights for the €100,000 feature, with last year’s winner Pairofbrowneyes one of five Willie Mullins-trained contenders.

The Grade Three Naas Directors Plate Novice Chase is one of the supporting events with Kaiser Black, who chased home La Bague Au Roi in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival, in the frame to take on Mullins’ Camelia De Cotte.

Chosen Mate, a Grade Two winner at the track last month, could contest the Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle for Elliott.

Elliott said: “Chosen Mate has come out of his Grade Two win well and we’ve put him in the race on Sunday to give him an option. There’s a chance he will go straight to Aintree, but Naas might be a nice stepping stone for him.”