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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Review naas 22nd Feb
Noel Meade's Go Native was the easy winner of the paddypower.com Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas.
Beaten out of sight behind Hurricane Fly on his last start, he oozed class in the Grade Two event.
Paul Carberry was his usual confident self on the 9-4 joint-favourite and such was the ease with which he beat Roberto Goldback a tilt to Cheltenham is now being considered. The disappointment of the race was Colm Murphy's Zaarito
Meade said: "I'm not sure if we will go (to Cheltenham) but it is tempting now. I will chat with the owner and see what we will do.
"He travels well and jumps well. Nothing at home has been able to get him off the bridle so I think he will even come on a bit for the run today."
Carberry added: "He could be a Champion Hurdle-type of a horse (one day). He'd be better on better ground."
Paul Nolan's Joncol (3-1) belied his lack of experience to win the Woodlands Park 100 Nas Na Riog Novice Chase.
Only a six-year-old and with only one run over fences under his belt he stayed on strongly to beat Good Fella by 10 lengths.
Nolan said: "He's had a few little setbacks that have held him up this season.
"He's a big baby, he's 17 hands high and I think Cheltenham might come a bit too soon for him.
"He's only six and is one for the future. I would not be in favour of taking him over there this year."< Carthalawn (6-1) sprung a minor surprise in the paddypowerpoker.com Newlands Chase beating 6-4 joint-favourites Schindlers Hunt and Mansony under Slippers Madden.
Byrnes said: "He won't be going to Cheltenham but maybe Fairyhouse and Punchestown, and we could also have a look at Aintree."
Willie Mullins suffered a rare reverse when Quadrillon was put well in his place by Dermot Weld's Rite Of Passage (7-2) in the bumper.
Weld said: "He did it well on heavy ground. I'm not going to get carried away as it was a bit of a messy race. Robbie (McNamara) gave him a perfect ride, dropping him out, and he came home well.
"He's still a big, immature horse. Cheltenham is a possibility but I have another
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