PANDORAMA has Noel Meade dreaming of Cheltenham Gold Cup glory after his victory in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.
The seven-year-old showed himself to be the rising star of the Irish staying division with an excellent six-length success in the Grade One feature.
While Britain has been starved of top-class action over the Christmas period due to the freezing temperatures, Pandorama warmed those in Ireland with a wonderful performance that has put him line for a crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
He is now a best-priced 16-1 with most bookmakers for the Festival feature behind 9-2 favourite Imperial Commander.
Connections of Pandorama have always felt their horse had the potential to rise to the top. He had impressive form in novice hurdles and chases, but failed to do himself justice when pulled up in last month’s Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.
But under Paul Carberry the 7-2 joint-favourite’s six-length defeat of British raider Money Trix and Joncol showed his ability and landed a big gamble.
Trainer Meade said: “We are back on track and will aim for the (Irish) Hennessy back here if he stays right.
“We are still dreaming of the Gold Cup. He worked very well at Dundalk last Thursday and had some good horses behind him. We’ll enjoy today. We know he goes left-handed and that was only his fifth run over fences so he is still improving.
“I wouldn’t run him on good ground. It has to be yielding or softer.”
Money Trix was finishing runner-up for the second successive year having been a lot closer to Paul Nicholls’ What A Friend 12 months ago.
Trainer Nicky Richards may look to gain revenge on the winner in the Irish Hennessy back at Leopardstown.
The Greystoke handler was delighted with the 10-year-old and said: “He was probably the first off the bridle down the back but he stayed on well.
“I hope he does land one before the end of the day and the obvious race is to come back here for the Hennessy as he does like to get soft ground.
“But we’re happy and the winner’s a very good horse.”
Meanwhile Tony McCoy will have to pass the doctor before he rides at Newbury today after hurting his wrist in a fall in the Lexus Chase.
McCoy parted company with the Willie Mullins-trained Kempes at the second-last fence, damaging his left wrist in the tumble.
The 15-times champion jockey decided not to go to hospital but he will have to get the go-head from the doctor if he is to partner Nicholls’ Big Buck’s in the AP Wins Sports Personality Long Walk Hurdle.
“Tony McCoy has left the track with his left wrist packed in ice,” said Dr Walter Halley, medical officer for the Irish Turf Club. “He’s not going to go for an X-ray, he’s going to fly straight home and he will get one if it is required when he gets back. He will have to be cleared by the doctor to ride tomorrow back in Britain.”
While Mullins was out of luck in the feature Mourad was the first part of the double after swooping late in the Grade Two woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle.
He could also head to the Cheltenham Festival to try and dethrone Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes’ World Hurdle. Having finished fourth to stablemate Hurricane Fly in the Hatton’s Grace under Paul Townend the 7-4 favourite comfortably beat Powerstation by two lengths clear.
He is a best-priced 16-1 with Betfred for the World Hurdle, behind 5-6 favourite Big Buck’s.
Mullins said: “The race conditions suited him, although I was afraid of the heavy ground.
“He will go for the stayers’ hurdle at Cheltenham but will maybe have one or two runs before then if I can find a race like that. Paul gave him a smashing ride and he said that the ground was very heavy which wouldn’t have suited Mourad at all.”
TODAY’S NAP: Ravethebrave (2.45pm Newbury).
