Aitmatov wins big race

Castletown trainer Noel Meade made a long-awaited return to the racecourse on Saturday following a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a big race double at Naas. Meade was out of action for six weeks and during that time he endured a brief period in hospital after he sustained a back injury, but was back on track at the weekend. 'It was great to get back and I was really heartened by the huge welcome I received. It was even better that both Aitmatov and Parsons Pistol won,' he told the Meath Chronicle on Monday. Aitmatov recorded a seventh career win when Paul Carberry coaxed a winning run out of the John O"Meara-owned gelding in the Limestone Lad Hurdle and the German bred horse will now be aimed at the World Hurdle at Cheltenham for which Punchestowns is a leading contender. A possible alternative would be a two and a half-mile hurdle at Aintree the following month instead and Meade is keeping his options open at the moment. Meade completed a double on the day when the Robert Bagnall-owned Parsons Pistol won the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase for Carberry. 'Parsons Pistol stays well and has a good engine, he will improve and could be an Aintree Grand National horse in the future,' suggested the trainer. Parsons Pistol will be entered in the two staying chases at Cheltenham, but it"s unlikely that either horse will run again before the Festival. Meade will be busy again this week when he sends Mattock Ranger and Cleni Boy for the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park on Thursday while Muirhead will be his only runner in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.