Nolan hopeful 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 today.

“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.

“I think he should make it though, as our physio Liz Kent says that we might have just caught it in time because with another gallop it could have been far worse.”

Explaining the nine-year-old’s problem in greater detail, Nolan continued: “He has tweaked a muscle that would start just behind the saddle and runs down into his hind quarter. He is getting an hour of laser a day and I really do hope that he is sound when he starts cantering next Wednesday or Thursday.”

Cloone River, who is unbeaten in two starts over fences, is a best-priced 12-1 chance for the Irish Independent-sponsored Arkle.