Castlehume gives Meade an across-the-card brace

Noel Meade conjured a victory out of Castlehume in the concluding Anglo Printers Irish EBF Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding was making his first start for Meade having been off-track for 521 days.

He certainly wasn't lacking in fitness as he came out best in a driving finish to win by a neck at 9/1 with Jonathan Moore in the saddle. Persian Wind was beaten into second at 7/1. Each-way punters got a dividend from Gold Seal (7/2f) in third and Mullinavat in fourth at 5/1.

Noel Meade said: “He got a bit of leg trouble and was laid off for a while. He ended up coming to me as he’s a full brother to Cask Mate and Russian Bill.

“We were just waiting for a suitable race for a while and I was a bit worried because the ground got so quick.

"I think he’ll go further because the other two do but he (Jonathan Moore) said if he did today it wouldn’t have worked because he was so free and fresh.”

Meade also had a victory in Wexford with Le Martalin in the featured novice chase.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee