NOEL MEADE will “go for gold” with Affordale Fury after identifying a reason for his disappointing display in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown earlier this month.

The eight-year-old has been in rude health this term and after beating I Am Maximus and Galopin Des Champs when claiming the Christmas Chase, he was a springer in the Cheltenham Gold Cup markets ahead of the key trials.

Momentum was checked slightly when he pulled up in the Dublin Racing Festival feature, but Meade discovered a reason for that performance, and his team are now focused on getting their star chaser to Cheltenham.

“He pulled a little muscle on the inside of his hind-leg, basically it looked like he pulled a hamstring and that’s why he stopped as quick as he did,” said Meade.

“We’ve worked pretty hard on him with physio and this, that and the other and we think we’ve got him back on track. He seems in good shape at the moment and I’m keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way.

“The plan is to go for gold. We all know he’s better than what he showed at the Dublin Racing Festival and we’re just hoping now we can keep him on track for Cheltenham. At the minute we couldn’t be happier with him and he did some pleasing work this week. Hopefully it’s all systems go.”