NOEL MEADE was the man to follow on day three of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival with a significant double courtesy of The Fist Of God and Fisher Bridge.
The former’s success in the opening Weatherbys Ireland GSB Hurdle set the ball rolling.
The Grade Three contest was rendered less competitive by the absence of likely favourite Ebadiyan, but there was still plenty to like about the winner’s performance under a strong ride from Paul Carberry.
The four-year-old was fiercely pressed by the Ruby Walsh-ridden Coffee Tea Or Me in the closing stages, but Carberry proved a belligerent opponent and was a length and a quarter too good at the line.
Meade said: ‘‘He’s not been working particularly well and he’s a bit lazy at home but he’s always been like that.
‘‘Paul said that he jumped great and hopefully he’ll run at Punchestown now in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.’’ Meade completed the brace with Fisher Bridge, who was turned out just two days after running fifth behind Kempes in a novice hurdle here on Sunday.
The Singspiel gelding was sent off at 20-1 for the Ladbrokes.
com Handicap Hurdle but scored by a neck from his stablemate Silverhand.
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