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Meade duo set for Royal Bond test

Cask MateCask Mate
© Photo Healy Racing

Noel Meade is set to launch a two-pronged attack on the BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

The Co Meath handler has confirmed Cask Mate as intended runner after his impressive wins at Limerick and Punchestown respectively.

"He was off for so long with a little bit of leg trouble and when he came back, he won well and we were delighted with the way he improved and came out at Punchestown and won again," Meade said.

"This is a big step up, a huge step-up, but he is at the age that you'd want to try it, so we are going to give him a rattle at it."

The participation of Jesse Evans, who got off the mark over flights at Gowran, isn't as definite and hinges on how well he performs in work this week.

"I was kind of kicking myself that I didn’t run him in the four-year-old race at Naas (on Saturday) but if he is okay and everything goes well this week, he will run in the Royal Bond I think.

"He is a nice horse. He got a little bit worked up after that run on the Flat and maybe I would have been better off had I just stayed hurdling with him. He is in very good shape at the moment."

Meade also gave an update on Tout Est Permis after his excellent third place finish in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal last month.

"He came out of Down Royal well. He is in the John Durkan but I don’t think he will run there.

"I think three miles is what he wants and softer ground. He'll probably run at Christmas over fences but we did put him in the three mile handicap hurdle at Navan (December 5th)."