Meade edging towards Dublin with Beacon

The Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase winner was to have headed to Leopardstown's Christmas meeting for more elite level experience but, having suffered with a bout of colic, it was decided to keep him on the easy list.

That patience appears to have been rewarded and his trainer reports that the eight-year-old has recovered well. He may now head for the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at next month's Dublin meeting.

Beacon Edge currently holds only an entry for the Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but it would be no surprise to see him entered for one of the big novices' chases between now and then.

His defeat of Gabynako at Fairyhouse in the Drinmore saw him arrive late on the scene over the two and a half mile trip and he looks sure to improve again when tried over three miles for the first time in his chasing career.

That could bring him very firmly into the Festival Novices' Chase (formerly RSA) picture, race for whoch he currently has a 12-1 quote by Planet Sport Bet.

Meade said: "He got a colic the day after Christmas Day. He's OK now - he's fine.

"There's a possibility he may run at the Dublin Racing Festival in the Grade 1, two-mile-five chase.

"If he doesn't go there then I don't think there's an alternative for him, as he'd have a Grade 1 penalty in all those other novice chases.

"I'd say if he doesn't go to Leopardstown, he'd go straight to Cheltenham for the three-mile novice."