Noel Meade runs Roses Of Picardy and Native Estates in today's Grand National and the trainer got into the right mood when his duo for yesterday's O'Dea Novice Hurdle filled the first two places.
The punters got them in the right order too as the 7 to 1 Boley Lad beat the 12 to 1 Arctic Copper by three-parts of a length but it was a close run thing.
Arctic Copper, owned by a political syndicate including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowan and the Sports Minister Jim McDaid, may have been neglected in the market but he kept on repelling boarders as the field battled up the straight.
The hot favourite Topacio joined issue at the second last but faded, Well Ridden found little off the bridle and Moscow Flyer had long since faded but Paul Carberry brought Boley Lad from well back to ultimately snatch the initiative on the run in. Meade described Carberry's winning effort as 'a bit of magic'.
The Stanley Cooker Champion Novice Hurdle is now a possibility for both the winner and Arctic Copper although Meade reported the race as a target for his smart Oa Baldixe also.
Yesterday's Jackpot of £25,000 was not won and is carried forward to today but it wasn't just the Jackpot races that provided heartache for the punters yesterday.
The market suggested the hot favourite Valley Henry was something of a good thing but he couldn't quicken in the straight and stayed on at one pace behind the 10 to 1 winner Bust Out who had a length to the 33 to 1 runner-up Rua Lass. Tuesday looked an unlucky-in-running third.
One favourite that did oblige was Mr Baxter Basics who beat Manhatten Castle in the Freany & Dan Moore Chase and Tom Taaffe's horse could now run in the BMW at Punchestown while John Fowler's enigmatic mare, Asklynn, was on her best behaviour to win the final of the mares novice hurdle.
English-based pilot Robert Widger worked the oracle with Oneofourown who bounced back to form in the handicap chase and prompted trainer Shane Donohoe to comment: 'Robert made all the difference to this horse.'
