Meade is happy with Iktitaf, Wild Passion

Immediate plans for Noel Meade's Cheltenham prospect Iktitaf are unclear but the Grade One winner is sound again after being forced out of Saturday's Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

"He got a bang on a hock while in his box which was enough to pull him out. But he is fine now," Meade reported yesterday.

Iktitaf hasn't appeared since beating O'Muircheartaigh in December's Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse and is a leading member of what is turning into a vintage crop of novice hurdlers from the Meade stable.

"I really don't know where he will go next as Sandown on Saturday was the plan. The important thing is that he is fine," Meade added.

The champion trainer also had an upbeat report on his novice chaser Wild Passion despite finishing only runner-up at Naas on Sunday.

"I think a lot of Wild Passion's problems this year can be put down to the ground. He has shown top-class form on genuine good ground at Cheltenham and Punchestown and the common denominator in his mediocre runs has been heavy, sticky ground," he said.

The Baileys Arkle Trophy at Leopadstown in 19 days' time remains a possible for Wild Passion and also for Accordion Etoile, the current 5 to 1 joint-favourite for the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Trainer Paul Nolan is also eyeing a race at Naas on February 11th as a possible pre-Cheltenham warm-up.

"The Irish Arkle could be a bit too quick. Naas is about four weeks before Cheltenham and we're keen to get more experience into him," Nolan said.

"He is in great shape and seems well. We've given him a nice break as he is not really a winter horse."

The Co Wexford trainer also had news of his Galway Hurdle-winner Cloone River who will miss out on the Victor Chandler Chase later this month due to a back problem.

"He is going for a scan on Tuesday at the Curragh. The problem may not be as bad as we first thought but we will know more tomorrow," said Nolan of Cloone River who is as low as 8 to 1 for the Champion Chase.

Champion jockey Ruby Walsh won't return to action for a couple of more days after his falls at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

His agent reported yesterday: "He is still sore. I rang him this morning and he told me he would give it another few days.

"I did not ask him when he would be back. He just said he was sore and we'll look again in a couple of days."