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Punchestown 2024
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Review NAVAN 9th Nov
Noel Meade has plenty to look forward to after two of his stars took firm steps along the comeback trail at Navan on the day one of the yard's emerging talents displayed immense promise.< Watson Lake showed all his old class to dismiss his rivals in the ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase to give the trainer a Grade Two prize.
The 10-year-old (8-1) was beaten out of sight behind War Of Attrition on his return from a long lay-off last month, but showed the benefit of the outing with an impressive display in the testing conditions.
He was in front for most of the way under Paul Carberry and after seeing off first Mansony and then Scotsirish coasted clear up the run-in to score by four lengths from the staying-on Slim Pickings
Next up for Meade was Aran Concerto who was making his debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase and oozed class on his first run since the 2007 Cheltenham Festival.
Carberry kept the evens favourite on the heels of the leaders for most of the two-and-a-half-mile trip before showing ahead two out, and the seven-year-old had no trouble asserting to beat Bronte Bay by seven lengths.
Earlier, Meade's exciting prospect Pandorama was sent off the 4-9 favourite and recorded a bloodless victory in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Carberry eased the dual bumper scorer into the lead approaching the third-last and the five-year-old barely broke sweat in beating Judge Roy Bean by 12 lengths.
Meade went on to complete a four-timer on the card when the Nina Carberry-ridden 6-4 favourite Across The Bay won the concluding William and Gladys Bourke (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.< Catch Me won at Grade Two level for the second time in his career when staying on really well to take the Lismullen Hurdle.
Edward O'Grady's six-year-old was held up in the early stages by Andrew McNamara but was travelling sweetly when he took closer order with three left to jump.
There were three in line at the second-last, but Catch Me was driven into the lead and the 4-1 shot battled on well to beat
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