It is one thing for a trainer to make his name through success, a very different thing to boost one's reputation in defeat. That, however, has been the achievement of Noel Meade in 1998. At Cheltenham in March his Hill Society was beaten a nose by Champleve in the Guinness Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.

Less than three months later Sunshine went off at odds 150 to 1 at Epsom and finished an honourable fourth to High-Rise after promising for a spell in the straight.

At Churchill Downs last Saturday he was again an ignored 116 to 1 chance and again ran a smashing race to be fifth to Buck's Boy in the Breeders Cup Turf.

After those runs, the notion that Meade can win the Seskin EBF Beginners Chase at Thurles this afternoon no longer looks so bizarre even if a mere handful of four-year-olds have scored over fences in Ireland. For a young horse taking on his elders, Marsul has jumped most bravely to finish in the money in his first two steeplechases. He was third to Amberleigh House at Cork and to Siberian Gale at Navan. Either of those winners could be Cheltenham material.

The partnership of Noel Meade and Paul Carberry could also score in the preceding Beginners Chase with Walt who can improve on his Galway run over fences.

Carberry has yet another good ride in the Holycross Hurdle where Sandy's Native charges for a hat-trick

Rash Remark is taken to win the Tobardora Flat Race in the hands of Philip Fenton. He has gone quite close in two successive bumpers, most recently when beaten by Sober Vision at Punchestown.

Given that Wild Zing will be getting weight all round in the Littleton Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, he could be the best to make the best of the "opportunity".

He has won two flat handicaps since last appearing over jumps. Then he was a remote third to Flagship Uberalles at Limerick and the winner was a satisfactory second to Zafarabad at Newbury on Tuesday.

Adrian Maguire picked up a three day whip ban at Kelso yesterday and was far from happy after the stewards found him guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency from the third last on Ardrina in the Ashleybank Investments Reg Tweedie Novices Chase.

The Irishman, paying a rare visit to the Borders track, was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency from the third last and was suspended for November 20th, 21st and 23rd.

United House Construction Handicap Chase winner Dontleavethenest will bid for another big Ascot prize a week on Saturday.

He will step up from two miles to 191/2 furlongs in a tilt at the First National Bank Gold Cup Chase.

The eight-year-old has been set 10st 3lb in weights published yesterday for the £50,000 event for first and second-season chasers, a rise of 7lb in the handicap.

And trainer Roger Curtis said: "The plan is to run and Norman Williamson will ride again - he was impressed with him at Ascot.

"Dontleavethenest is in super form and I was very pleased with him at Ascot."He has won over the trip before - he beat Step On Eyre and Dantes Cavalier at Exeter over two miles three last season.