Nolan's good form continues with Escrea

Punchestown reportPaul Nolan's good recent form continued with the victory of Escrea in the Volkswagen Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

However, her task was made far easier by the early exit of hot favourite Rindoon, who parted company with Davy Russell on the first circuit.

Nolan also ran Savitha, who was travelling equally as well as the winner half a mile out but made a bad mistake at the fourth-last.

The main challenge was from the pace-setting For A Song and Escrea (11 to 2) only got the upper hand after the last to win by one and three-quarter lengths under John Cullen.

Savitha had to settle for third.

Nolan's brother James said of the stable's one-three: "I couldn't split them beforehand and I still can't now. We will see where we go with them.

"Escrea deserved that and it was important as her owner John Crean wants to breed from her.

"Both of them could be possibles for a Listed mares' chase at Cork on December 16th rather than take on the boys at Christmas."

Jazz Messenger provided Noel Meade with a much-needed tonic by landing a game victory in the Maplewood Developments Hurdle.

With Iktitaf fighting for his life following a schooling injury and Harchibald a late defector, Jazz Messenger took the chance to show his worth.

Tracking the pacesetting Newmill, Jazz Messenger (4 to 1) made his move on the turn for home and led at the final flight.

Driven out by Paul Carberry, the seven-year-old kept on strongly to beat Farmer Brown by a length and a quarter. Macs Joy, the 9 to 4 favourite, was third.

Meade said: "He wasn't going to run as I didn't want to take on Iktitaf and the plan was to go straight for the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle. He might still go for it, depending on how he comes out of this. We really want to go back to try and win another Christmas Hurdle at Kempton with him. Harchibald will also run in the Fighting Fifth if it is good ground."

Meanwhile, Meade has revealed that the injury Iktitaf suffered when schooling on Friday morning is worst than first feared. The Grade One winner suffered an overreach to his near-fore leg and it was assumed that he would be out for the season but his career now looks to be over.

"He would need a miracle to be all right as the tendon is so bad," said Meade. "Before the operation the vet said he had a 45 per cent chance of being successful, but when he did the operation he said he had no chance. The vet is a little more optimistic now but that is more to save him than anything else as before he was talking about putting him down.

"It was touch and go but as far as racing is concerned his days are over," he said.