Nolan thrilled with Etoile

Paul Nolan has come out of his exertions at Punchestown on Sunday in great form and remains firmly on course for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham on March 14.

The novice – now as low as 7-2 favourite with William Hill for the Festival showpiece – was up against some of the best two-milers in Ireland in unfavourable conditions in Tied Cottage Chase.

He travelled well for a long way before blowing up at the final fence and eventually finishing third to Central House.

But Nolan believes it was the lack of a recent run rather than the ground that just found the seven-year-old out.

“I was delighted with him,” said Nolan.

“They went such a pace up front that with him being short of a run it was always going to find him out.

“John (Cullen) said he jumped the third-last brilliant, the second-last brilliant but as he landed over the last he just gave a heave, so he wasn’t hard on him after that.

“Even on that ground John said that with another racecourse gallop into him he would have been bang there. He just needed the run.

“Central House went such a pace that it became a real test. I’m delighted with how he’s come out of the race and I couldn’t be happier.

“We’ve improved half a stone on a line through Watson Lake. We were getting nearly a stone first time out this year and it was only 2lb yesterday, so we’ve turned the form around in a big way.”

It has always been thought Accordion Etoile needed good racing ground to be seen at his best, but Nolan now believes that as the horse gets older he is coping with the testing conditions far better.

“He seems to be handling softer ground better this year too and if the horse stays sound we won’t be as concerned in the future about running him on the soft,” he said.

“He travelled and jumped so well on ground that he wouldn’t have been at home on – and mark my words that was soft ground and not yielding as they said. It was an even better run than it looks on paper.”

Nolan was also full of praise for the winner, who he now believes goes to the Queen Mother Champion Chase with a great chance of claiming the prize.

“Central House must have every chance at Cheltenham,” said Nolan.

“Kauto Star is favourite, but it all depends if Moscow Flyer can come back to his best. If he gets there he is the one they have to beat, if not Central House has the form in the book.”