Meade wins Lincoln with Layfayette Noel Meade bagged a second big handicap win this week at the Curragh today, with Layfayette's win in the Paddy Power Irish Lincoln following the trainer's Tuesday Cheltenham Festival success with Jeff Kidder. Jeff Kidder was the biggest-priced winner of the week at the Cheltenham Festival when winning Tuesday's 22-runner Boodles Handicap Hurdle at 80/1 and today, at 8/1, Layfayette proved best in his own 24 runner contest. Ridden by Chris Hayes, the son of French Navy eventually beat runner-up Maker Of Kings by half a length to scoop first prize of €54,000 for owners Paul and Patricia Hunt. Afterwards Meade, winning the race for the first time, reported “it's nice when a plan comes together! “I'm delighted for the owners too because they haven't had a lot of luck lately. “I put cheekpieces on him and Chris (Hayes) said they made some difference to him. He's quite a nice horse and hopefully he'll be able to build on that. “The first day he ran here last year the ground was very quick and it took him a long time to get over it as he was sore after the run.” Meade also revealed “we've always loved him and I gelded him during the winter.” “He's not a hurdler, he's not that shape, and he has quite a flicky action. “A mile-and-a-quarter will probably suit him better, and he was second over a mile-and-a-half. He was entitled to win a good one because he's been knocking on the door.” Quotes from Gary Carson
