Double for Meade as Thedevilscoachman shows class to earn Cheltenham price cut

Sunday: Galway

Noel Meade brought two of his brightest young prospects to Ballybrit and emerged with a quality double, headlined by exciting novice chaser Thedevilscoachman.

A return to Graded company looks on the cards for JP McManus' Boyne Hurdle winner after he landed the 2m6½f beginners' chase won by ten Grade 1 winners since the turn of the millennium, including Don Cossack, Presenting Percy and the Meade-trained Harbour Pilot.

Stepping up in trip appeared to play to Thedevilscoachman's strengths and, under Mark Walsh, he posted a performance that was more convincing than the winning margin of a length and three-quarters over the useful Churchstonewarrior suggests.

Bookmakers cut the six-year-old to 20-1 (from 33) for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Meade said: "The softer ground was a help to him because it slows things down a bit. He'll learn as he goes along. His jumping is still a bit sticky, but he jumped well when he wanted him to. He goes that long trip easily. I'm not sure where he'll go next."

Affordale Fury: produced smart performance to maintain unbeaten record for Noel MeadeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Talented four-year-old Affordale Fury built on his point-to-point and bumper wins to make a winning start over hurdles in the 2m6f maiden under Bryan Cooper, despite being hassled by a loose horse for much of the journey.

Meade holds the youngster in high regard and said: "He did everything wrong but still won. The loose horse impacted him as he was running away the whole way. He has an engine and isn't slow. It might come too soon but the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan [on November 27] is an option."

Exciting prospect

A new joint-favourite emerged for the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after Deeply Superficial – a debut point-to-point winner who joined Gordon Elliott for £385,000 – saw off some promising rivals in the 2m mares' maiden hurdle.

Carrying the colours of Alymer Stud and ridden by Davy Russell, the 11-8 favourite was shortened to 8-1 (from 12) for the festival contest after scoring by three and a quarter lengths from Grade 2 bumper runner-up Law Ella.

Deeply Superficial: point-to-point recruit made winning start to career over hurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Assistant trainer Lisa O'Neill said: "She's a nice mare and hopefully will have a bright future. We knew she was more than capable of doing that but it was her first run and it was a competitive race."

The Mike Grech-owned Fortunedefortunata, making his first start since switching from David Bridgwater, brought up a double for Elliott in the 2m handicap hurdle.

It was also a first winner for Denis O'Regan since returning from a broken collarbone.

Welcome winner

History repeated itself in one of the 2m6½f handicap chases as 10-1 shot Captain Jimmy landed the race for the second consecutive year, providing trainer Pat Kelly with his first winner since that 2021 success.

The local trainer had saddled just 22 runners in the intervening period and his latest winner capped a fruitful trip home for 7lb claimer Aaron Anderson. Based in Britain but originally from Galway, Anderson had picked up the ride when returning to Ireland for a wedding this weekend.

Results, replays and analysis

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