Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FALCON SOARS
Meade’s charge rises high to take Kerry National
SNOW FALCON gave trainer Noel Meade and jockey Jonathan Moore, deputising for the injured Sean Flanagan, a first Guinness Kerry National when holding the late challenge of Saturnas and then surviving a Stewards Enquiry in Listowel yesterday.
A highly creditable fourth in the Galway Plate last time, recovering from a dreadful mistake at the sixth fence, the 6/1 shot took over from front-running favourite Rogue Angel three fences from home and looked set for clear-cut success before idling and drifting right on the run-in.
Snow Falcon, registering only his second win over fences, held on by a neck from 20/1 Saturnas (Paul Townend), with Rogue Angel four lengths away in third, and, after a lengthy enquiry, was confirmed the winner.
“It’s great to add the Kerry National to the CV – this has been an unlucky horse, but everything went great for him through the race,” said Meade (who trains the horse for long-term supporters the Hunts), when still anxious about the outcome of the enquiry, “The plan was to jump off and go around the inside. Jonathan rode him exactly as we planned it, although he went a bit earlier.
“He said he didn’t want to join Rogue Angel, because it would have helped Gordon’s horse. This horse has trained very well since Galway and I’d say the softer ground helped him.”
And paying tribute to the winning rider, Meade added: “He’s not an extravagant jumper of fences but he jumped great today – Jonathan is a very good rider – horses jump brilliant for him. He has great hands and a good eye for a stride. He rides out for me four mornings a week and is the automatic choice when something happens to Sean (Flanagan).”
Looking ahead, Meade suggested the Munster National (in Limerick) as a possible target next month, while the Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly the Hennessy) is firmly in his plans.
On a day when he saddled three seconds, including Saturnas, Willie Mullins said: “The way today was going, I didn’t think I’d get in here (the winner’s enclosure),” after 11/10 favourite Quick Grabim (Paul Townend) bolted-up in the MSD Animal Health Maiden Hurdle.
Donnacha O’brien delivered 1/2 favourite Japan with a late challenge to land the two-yearold maiden for Ballydoyle.
And Ben Coen edged into the lead in the race for the Apprentice Championship thanks to his win on Pat Fahy’s in-foal Stormy Belle in the Brandon Hotel Handicap. The winner is likely to reappear here on Friday.