'I love them, they are the future' - Noel Meade gives new traditional-style Easyfix hurdles the thumbs-up

The response to new traditional-style hurdles from Easyfix trialled at three meetings in Ireland over the last week has been positive with Noel Meade, in particular, a huge fan and convinced they will be rolled out at every Irish track in time. 

The hurdles were in use for the first time at Tipperary on Sunday, and the trial continued at Fairyhouse on Monday and again at Galway on Tuesday. There will be a dozen trials in total at four tracks, with Thurles also set to try them out at upcoming meetings.

Speaking about the new hurdles, Meade said: "I love them and have done since the first time I saw them.

"They have to be a better job than the other ones. As Eric McNamara, who did a lot of showjumping, said, if someone sent you out to design a hurdle now nobody would have ever designed the old-style ones. These new ones look like the real deal.

Noel Meade: a fan of the new hurdles being trialled in IrelandCredit: Patrick McCann

"They are a totally different job to the other Easyfix hurdles which are in use. The other ones are solid and if you get it wrong you should come down. Whereas with these ones, you can make a mistake and get away with it. I think horses are more inclined to jump these ones."

Asked whether he could envisage them becoming a permanent fixture at Irish tracks, Meade replied: "Oh, absolutely. Gordon [Elliott] loves them, and Gavin [Cromwell] and Willie [Mullins] also like them so everyone so far seems very positive about them."

The response from jockeys has also been upbeat. Donagh Meyler, who rode Ranger Billy to win a 3m handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on Monday over them, said: "Everyone seems very happy in the weighing room. I've heard no complaints anyway. I love them."

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