Prince’s progress pleases Nolan
Winner of the Jewson Novices’ Chase at last season’s Festival, the eight-year-old was among a small team Nolan took for a racecourse workout at the Curragh at the start of the week.
“We are happy at this stage with the few we are taking to Cheltenham, as long as we can keep them sound until then,” said Nolan.
“We worked them over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh on a lovely bit of fresh ground on grass.
“Noble Prince seems very well. All has gone well with him so far and he’s had no setbacks. Hopefully he will be fine for Thursday week.
“He’s had his palate fired which wasn’t major surgery. Ben Brain (vet) did the operation and he said all going well, it should be perfect timing as regards when it was done. Hopefully it won’t be an issue.
“He seems fine and he came out of the operation very well. We won’t know how successful it was until he runs.
“We never thought that was a problem but we had it checked out and we decided to give him the wind op.
“If it was going to make a difference of a couple of lengths you never know.”
Nolan has yet to finalise who rides Noble Prince at Cheltenham as Tony McCoy, who was in the saddle there 12 months ago, is likely to be claimed for dual Ryanair winner Albertas Run for Jonjo O’Neill.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mullins feels there is not much to chose between Scotsirish and Uncle Junior, his potential mounts in the Glenfarclas Handicap Cross Country Chase.
Scotsirish has handled the step up in trip for the cross-country events in his stride this season – although there was one blip when he was carried on to the wrong course at Cheltenham in December.
Uncle Junior will carry top weight, but won on his first attempt at the course in November.
He was then carried out in the melee a month later, when course regular Garde Champetre was the beneficiary.
“I think I have five rides this year and the Cross Country is probably my best chance, but my Dad (Willie) hasn’t decided which I’m going to ride yet,” said Mullins.
“I don’t see how Scotsirish is half the price of Uncle Junior as I think there’s very little between the two of them.
“I saw a stat the other day that said Uncle Junior was the first horse since 2000 to win over the Cross Country course at the first attempt. There’s only 3lb between them and I don’t think that will make much of a difference as they both have very good chances.”
Dermot Weld has questioned whether his William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle challenger Galileo’s Choice has the required experience to win the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser.
A Group Three winner on the level, he has won two of his three starts over timber with his sole defeat coming at the hands of Sous Les Cieux in the Royal Bond.
Only seen once since then, he had no trouble winning in a small field at Fairyhouse but despite him being as low as 6-1 with Ladbrokes for the Cheltenham opener, his trainer admits it could be a real eye-opener for him in the Cotswolds.
“Inexperience would be the problem with him,” said Weld.
“He’s a Flat horse converted to jumping and the rest of his year will be built around the Flat and inexperience will be a problem, especially around Cheltenham.”
