DE VALIRA SUFFERS FESTIVAL SETBACK

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Madden - on board the winner.

By PA Sport Staff

De Valira lost favouritism for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after a surprise defeat at Punchestown on Sunday.

Favourite for the Cheltenham showdown before the Byrne Group plc Novice Hurdle, he suffered a reversal at the hands of Noel Meade's Orbit O'Gold.

The latter ran in the ultra-competitive Pierse Hurdle on his last start, an experience he did not enjoy, but back in novice company he made all under an enterprising ride by Niall 'Slippers' Madden, returning at a huge 50-1.

De Valira travelled well for most of the race and was conceding 6lb to the winner, but Perce Rock, second in the Tolworth Hurdle, was a big disappointment.

Meade joked: "As far as the handicapper is concerned that wasn't a great idea!"

He added: "He ran in the Pierse Hurdle and I made Paul (Carberry) ride him as I thought he had the best chance of my two, but he ran disappointingly.

"He wears ear plugs as he tends to freak out a bit, but he always goes well at home.

"The lads are keen to go to Cheltenham and he is entered in a few races, but I think after that we'll go for the two-miler (Supreme Novices')."