The Noel Meade trained Tout Est Permis looks set to be aimed at the Ryanair Chase rather than the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.

The tenacious six-year-old grey has been a revelation since joining Noel Meade, winning at Galway, the Troytown Chase at Navan and a Grade Two at Thurles racecourse.

The most recent of those successes came over just short of the Ryanair trip, but he required every inch of that distance to catch a re-energized Sub Lieutenant, who like Tout Est Permis is owned by Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary in the Gigginstown House Stud colours. The difference of winning or losing was the presense of jockey Sean Flanagan in the saddle , he gave the horse a strong never say die ride.

“Tout Est Permis is in good form since Thurles,” insited Noel Meade. “Eddie (O’Leary, racing manager) is quite keen that he’d run in the Ryanair if everything goes well and the ground is soft.”The handicapper put him up another 7lb, so he’s going the right way.”