Meade hoping to celebrate 70th birthday at Cork Former champion trainer Noel Meade will be hoping to mark his 70th birthday with a winner or two at Cork this afternoon as the Castletown maestro brings a strong team to the Mallow venue. Dinard Rose, who is owned by former Champion Amateur rider Nina Carberry, lines up in the featured GAIN Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. The daughter of Champs Elysees has proved a good money-spinner under both codes winning three times on the Flat and a further two races over hurdles for Tu Va Stables. The latest of those wins came over two and a half miles in a Thurles handicap, although connections are a bit concerned about the testing going after finishing in mid-division at Naas last time. Meade said, “We were hoping to run her in the Pertemps race at Leopardstown and she got balloted out. Seeing as she is ready to go we thought we’d give her a rattle at this. “She’s not altogether happy on heavy ground and it’s not going to be suitable in Cork but she’s ready to run.” Her eight rivals include the Willie Mullins-trained pair Bon Retour and Koshari, while Gordon Elliott’s Commentariolus kept on well when fourth over course and distance last time. Meade has a number of good chances elsewhere on the card with Pat’s Pick and Curious Bride in the two maiden hurdles while Hes A Hardy Bloke looks sure to go off a short-priced favourite in the opening GAIN Rated Novice Hurdle. This two miles event has been won in recent years by smart sorts like Chatham Street Lad and Court Maid, and Meade said “He’s in good form and has plenty of speed. Two miles suits him well.” Robert Tyner’s horses have been running well without success over the past few weeks and the Kinsale trainer may record a deserved win with Exit To The West in the Thanks To All The Frontline Workers Beginners Chase.
