Iktitaf tops Novice Hurdle field
Iktitaf heads a select field of five runners for the Grade Two Byrne Group plc Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.
Noel Meade’s five-year-old lowered the colours of one-time Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite O’Muircheartaigh in the Grade One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on his last start in early December but has been off the track since.
He had travelled over to Sandown last December to run in the Tolworth Hurdle but suffered a setback in the racecourse stables which prevented him from running.
“Iktitaf is fine after his little break,” said Meade. “I don’t know how he did it but he got cast in his box at Sandown.
“It was nothing too serious and we haven’t been held up with him at all.
“His last performance didn’t really surprise me because he had done two very smart pieces of work before that.
“There was a lot of talk about O’Muircheartaigh after his last win so we’ll see if the form stands up.
“He’s been working well and we are very pleased with him going into the race on Sunday.
“He is a Grade One winner so he is giving weight away all round. Sublimity is the one to watch I think. He was good on the level and very impressive on his debut.”
Sublimity heads Iktitaf’s rivals along with Tolpuddle, three-time winner Mounthenry and Ceeawayhome who is on a hat-trick.
Sublimity’s trainer, John Carr is hoping his new stable star can keep the dream alive ahead of a tilt at the Festival.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute before finding his way into Carr’s care, Sublimity ran out a comfortable five-length winner on his first start over hurdles.
He currently trades at around the 20-1 mark for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Carr says that race is the priority rather than Sunday’s contest.
“I wouldn’t say his preparation has gone perfect,” said Carr.
“We were undecided as to whether to run him or not but we have decided to take our chance.
“He goes well fresh and he has certainly freshened up since his last run but he could be a gallop short.
“It’s a pretty warm race mind you. Noel’s (Iktitaf) is a Grade One winner and Tommy Stack’s (Tolpuddle) is an Irish Lincoln winner so you’d go a long way to find better novices than that.
“We could have sent him straight to Cheltenham but he will learn more tomorrow.
“It could be a bit of a cat and mouse affair. I would imagine Ceeawayhome would like a strong run race so he could make it.
“The ground should be fine – the only ground he wouldn’t go on would be sticky, holding ground. Anything other than that he should be fine.”
