Archie Meade springs 20/1 shock

Archie Meade served up a 20/1 shock in the ultra-competitive Grade B novice handicap hurdle which saw 22 runners go to post for the three mile race at Fairyhouse.

Archie Meade, trained by Malachy Hassett and ridden by Danny Howard, ran the home bend well and surged into prominence after jumping two out.

Despite being untidy at the last the seven-year-old son of Beneficial recovered and kept on well to beat Jetson (8/1) and Keith Sexton by a length and three parts.

Caheronaun (14/1) and Cairdin (7/1) completed the placings. Lightly-weighted Seventy Three was sent off the 5/1 favourite and finished sixth.

Winning jockey Danny Howard said: “He won a maiden and he has won a point-to-point by 20 lengths so maybe we’ll be here next year on Easter Monday for the big one!

“The better ground helped him. I’m based in Co Clare training a few point-to-pointers. I won a Whitbread Gold Cup in 2004 on Puntal for Martin Pipe and I was with Arthur Moore for ten years.

“I rode in France for a year and then in Australia as a work rider for a year and have been riding in New Zealand as well.”

The winner paid 53.40 on the Tote.

Michael Graham