Nolan hopeful Cloone River can make Cheltenham

PAUL NOLAN will decide next week whether his Arkle Trophy hope Cloone River will make it to the Cheltenham Festival after tweaking a muscle in his back.

The County Wexford-based handler was forced to scratch the Galway Hurdle winner from this Sunday's Irish equivalent after the gelding suffered the setback last week, but is hopeful of making the March 15 contest.

"We will make a decision on Cheltenham next week after he starts back cantering," Nolan said yesterday. "We will send him for another scan after that but he seems to be going along the right lines although we won't know until after he has cantered if Cheltenham is on or not.