Published: Wednesday, 10th March, 2010 5:00pm

Go Native bids to complete hat-trick

Champion Hurdle bonus on offer

IN THE BAG.................Go Native on the scent of the million-pound bonus at Tu Va Stables last week with Alan McElroy (left), Darra Bourke and trainer Noel Meade.

Castletown trainer Noel Meade is gearing up for next Tuesday's eagerly awaited Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham where Go Native will bid to add a £1,000,000 bonus to the big race prizemoney.

Last week Meade was busy facilitating publicity photography at his Tu Va stables for sponsors WBX.COM as they covered all angles to get Go Native in focus.

Go Native qualified for the bonus after he won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park last November and December, races he won previously with the now retired Harchibald.

"Having won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in 2007 with Harchibald it was disappointing to get beaten at Kempton in the second leg when we were going for the £1 million bonus, but we have a terrific opportunity now. It is very exciting to be involved, especially with so much money at stake," commented the trainer.

The enigmatic Harchibald looked like winning the Champion Hurdle for Meade five years ago when he arrived at the last full of running for Paul Carberry, but was edged out on the run-in by Hardy Eustace.

Twelve months ago Go Native stormed up the Cheltenham hill to land the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Carberry missed the winning rides in the first two legs of the three-race challenge due to suspension. He was banned for failing a breathalyser-style test before racing at Naas.

The popular Meath man has been sidelined for the past fortnight with an ankle injury.

Davy Condon deputised on Go Native for Meade, but Carberry is keen to partner the Galway-owned horse next Tuesday.

"Paul rode out last Thursday and I'm sure he will be back riding fairly soon," Meade commented.

"We will do another little piece of work with Go Native this week and then look forward to Cheltenham," he added.

Carberry is expected to return to action on the track this week and has reported that his ankle has responded well to treatment.

Meade is hoping that the ground will be to the liking of Go Native. "I hope they don't turn the taps on, watered ground is the danger to us," he added.

However, watering commenced at Cheltenham on Monday, but the track drains particularly well.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse reported the ground to be good to soft, good in places on the chase and hurdles track, with the cross-country course good to soft, soft in places.

"According to the outlook, there is no rain in sight so we will be watering," suggested the clerk of the course.

"The aim is to maintain the ground at its current good to soft, good in places, but the track does dry very quickly here," he added.

Sublimity was ruled out of the big race by his trainer, Ratoath-based Robert Hennessy. Sublimity won the Champion Hurdle three years ago when trained by John Carr at Kilcloon, but has been ruled out by injury and will not race for the remainder of this season.

Skryne woman Caitrin O'Rourke, who won the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity Race at the Punchestown Festival last year riding the Oliver Brady-trained Kerzak, has been chosen from the many applicants to be one of the 12 riders to take part in a charity race at the Cheltenham Festival this year.

The Meath woman will be in action in the 12-runner ladies race on Thursday, 18th March over one mile and five furlongs and will be the final race on the card.

Athboy woman Lily Lawlor will be hoping that her Dunguib can open the Festival with an Irish victory in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle next Tuesday.