Trainer Noel Meade is hoping that Apache Stronghold can put up a bold show in the Grade 1 Growise Novice Chase at Punchestown next Tuesday.

The Milan gelding was a faller when travelling well at Fairyhouse on his latest start in the Ryanair Gold Cup.

The seven-year-old, winner of the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown in February, had previously finished runner-up to Vautour in the Grade 1 JLT Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

"Apache Stronghold is okay after Fairyhouse and he's going to run in the Growise Champion Novice Chase - he's a good horse who has never disgraced himself yet," said Meade.

"I don't know if I left him a bit too fresh for Fairyhouse but Paul [Carberry] said he took a pull out of him and went straight into the fence. He'd never done it before and has schooled well since."

Meade is set to bring his usual strong team to the Punchestown Festival and will run Cheltenham Gold Cup third Road To Riches in the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup.

"Road To Riches seems well enough at home although he had a hard race in Cheltenham alright. He was in second place there and just got caught near the line," said Meade.

"If he brings his A-game to Punchestown, he'll have a big chance in the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup.

"But I don't know how much Cheltenham has taken out of him although we thought there that better ground would help him."