First Lieutenant to run in Neptune

RACING:PREDICTIONS OF good ground at Cheltenham next week have contributed to Mouse Morris's decision to run his top novice, First Lieutenant, in the Neptune Investment Hurdle.

The two mile Supreme had also been under consideration for the Michael O’Leary-owned star, who defeated Zaidpour at Leopardstown last Christmas, if going conditions turned soft.

But Morris confirmed yesterday: “He’ll run in the Neptune. His form looks stronger all the time, Hidden Cyclone (third at Leopardstown) has won two Grade Two races since and Zaidpour ran well in another Grade One.

“I’m thinking the ground will be goodish and that should suit him, being by Presenting. He’s a horse that I haven’t had any major hiccups with and that’s always a bonus.”

First Lieutenant is a stand-out 14 to 1 with William Hill for the Neptune and is set to be ridden by Gigginstown Stud’s retained jockey, Davy Russell.

Other Cheltenham news yesterday centred on Noel Meade’s hopes that ground conditions don’t get too quick ahead of a proposed attempt on the Gold Cup by his Lexus winner Pandorama.

“If we get good to soft ground that will be okay but what we don’t want is the sun to come out with a drying wind because it can dry quickly there. I think it should be fine, but there is nothing we can do about it,” Meade reported.

“I was pleased with his recent gallop at Leopardstown, he worked with two good horses and worked really well. Paul (Carberry) was delighted with him and said he gave him a great feel. I’m really happy where he is at the moment,” he added.

The former champion trainer also plans to run Realt Dubh in the Arkle, a race that almost fell to Meade 13 years ago when Hill Society was memorably denied in a photo finish by Champleve.

“You’d have to say he’s done more than Hill Society had at the same stage, he’s certainly more of a chaser than Hill Society was. He’s won two Grade Ones and a Grade Two this year and Hill Society had done nothing like that.

“He’s a very good moving horse and I don’t think he’ll mind a bit of good ground, it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve been going to Cheltenham for a long time now and I’ve never seen an easy race there. I don’t listen to those saying it doesn’t look the strongest renewal,” Meade said.