Oscar for Meade in tight finish

Following an early morning inspection on Saturday, Navan was found to be fit for racing despite a heavy overnight frost and local trainer Noel Meade was quick out of the blocks when he landed the opening race with Oscar Looby. The Colm Murphy-trained Zaarito was just edged out on his jumping debut in the opening maiden hurdle. The high-quality bumper performer travelled like the class act of the field and cruised up, on the bridle, under Matt O"Connor to press Oscar Looby for the lead approaching the second last, but Meade"s charge kept responding to Paul Carberry and held on by a short-head. Davy Russell was the jockey in form at Navan and he landed the second four-timer of his career when scoring on Clan Tara, Made In Taipan, Nuvelli and Chelsea Harbour. The flat season officially ended at Dundalk on Friday night where Kiltale trainer Ger Lyons brought his tally for the season to 54 when Romeo"s On Fire secured his third win at the track when finishing strongly under new champion apprentice Emmet McNamara in a handicap. McNamara, who had three winners in his first season in 2007, partnered 16 winners for Lyons in what turned out to be a memorable year. Romeo"s On Fire (6/1) showed a smart turn of foot in the final furlong to score by over a length from Inwood which gave Lyons his 54th winner of the campaign. 'This horse needs six furlongs and hopefully he will run in some decent handicaps next season,' stated Lyons who finished fourth in the trainers" table for the first time.. 'I"m delighted with the way things have gone this year and plenty of credit must go to my team at home and I am delighted for Emmet McNamara also,' added Lyons. There was a delayed start to Fairyhouse on Wednesday of last week due to the weather conditions, but Jim Dreaper and Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch teamed up to win a handicap hurdle with Dallaglio which is owned by Pat and Tilly Conway who won the Troytown Chase at Navan with Notre Pere a couple of weeks ago. 'This fellow had a wind operation since his last run as he wasn"t getting home, this wasn"t a great race but at least he got home,' stated the trainer who indicated that Notre Pere would go for either the Welsh National or the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. The trainer"s son, Thomas, will also be riding in Ireland in the future after spending a number of years in England.