Prince ready to go the distance

PAUL Nolan is looking forward to stepping Noble Prince up in trip for the first time over fences in the Jewson Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The seven-year-old has stuck to around two miles in three races over the bigger obstacles but Nolan has always wanted to wait until the Festival to give him a try over two and a half miles.

“We’ve always said that with the heavier ground here in Ireland during the winter, we’d try to keep him to the minimum trip,” the County Wexford trainer told At the Races.