Horse racing: Meehan aims to prosper again

Brian Meehan’s eight-year-old gelding was a narrow winner of the second leg of the autumn double in 2010 and has since been campaigned exclusively at Listed and Group level.

He could, however, return to handicap company this weekend. Leading ante-post fancies Hurricane Higgins, Countrywide Flame, Montaser and Motivado feature among the remaining 55 entries, of which 34 horses are guaranteed a run.

Hidden Universe is one of the more notable defectors, but trainer Dermot Weld still has a major contender engaged in Olympiad, last seen winning at York’s Ebor Festival in August. Alhellal (8st 3lb) is an interesting contender for County Kildare handler Maurice Phelan.

The six-year-old has won twice on the all-weather at Dundalk this year and registered his first victory on turf for the campaign when landing the Ulster Derby at Down Royal in June. Phelan has given his charge a mid-season break and feels he is going into this weekend’s race in good order.

Tominator could have his first run for Jonjo O’Neill, while other possible runners include I Have A Dream, Martyr and Albert Bridge. Nicky Henderson’s huge string of National Hunt horses are getting ready to swing into action and he will take heart from the victory of Lieutenant Miller in the Phil Bull Trophy Conditions Stakes at Pontefract. The six-year-old had never run on the Flat before but had won twice over hurdles last season.

Fit from a summer jumping campaign, Tom Queally’s mount was expected to struggle against the likes of last year’s November Handicap winner Zuider Zee and Darley Sun, the 2009 Cesarewitch hero. Zuider Zee was sent off the 4-11 favourite to give John Gosden another winner but made hard work of getting to Petaluma before being worn down close home by what is believed to be Henderson’s first runner at the track. Lieutenant Miller was sent off at 11-1 and prevailed by a short head.

Rab Havlin picked up a four-day suspension (October 22-25) for his use of the whip on the runner-up. “He dug deep,” said Queally, who was celebrating his 28th birthday. “He handled the ground and it’s nice to have a winner on my birthday.”