CHELTENHAM NEWS

Connections considering Thedevilscoachman options

Handler Noel Meade says a decision is yet to be made on Thedevilscoachman ahead of next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

An impressive victory in the Listed I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday saw the five-year-old back up a win at Navan on January 29.

Meade was pleased with the Punchestown win over the weekend and says he will now be in talks with owner JP McManus and racing manager Frank Berry over which race at Cheltenham Thedevilscoachman will go for.

“It was a nice race for him,” Meade said. “He’s so laidback – he just does whatever you want him to do.

“I’ll have to talk to JP and Frank about plans and see what they are thinking. We’ll see where the handicapper puts him in.

“He’s a nice horse to have. When you pick him up he has a great turn of foot, which is what you want in a real racehorse.”