Nicholls rules Supreme
Paul Nicholls, the season’s leading trainer, got off to a winning start at the Cheltenham Festival as Noland took the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old flew at the death for Ruby Walsh and swooped in the last few strides to collar Straw Bear and Tony McCoy in the shadow of the post.
The 6-1 chance prevailed by a neck, with pace-setter Buena Vista a length and a quarter away in third.
Buena Vista and Masafi set a testing early tempo but it was McCoy who was cruising aboard the Nick Gifford-trained Straw Bear as they took it up at the second-last.
Noland, running in the colours of John Hales, was well behind and off the bridle at that stage as Straw Bear went clear, although a slow jump at the last cost the leader valuable momentum.
Walsh was just hitting top gear, however, and his partner powered up the testing hill to steal the Grade One prize.
Nicholls said: “He always stays on strongly so I said to Ruby to let him bounce out and freewheel down the hill and get a breath, which is what he did.
“He does want two miles plus so it was a good job the rain came and slowed it down for him a bit.
“He’s a chaser through and through and will jump fences.”
VC Bet go 4-1 about Noland winning the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival next month, a race sponsored by the bookmaker, who offer a £25,000 bonus for winning both contests.
Hales admitted he did not know his horse had won.
“I got caught up in hundreds of people and I couldn’t see the screen. I hadn’t a clue he’d won the race. I couldn’t see the finish,” he told Racing UK.
“He’s one of the few horses you’ll see at Cheltenham bred to be in the Derby. He looked a chaser when we bought him and this is a bonus.
“They probably went too quick and the battle started at the top of the hill instead of at the bottom of it.
“I saw him going through the field coming to the final flight, then I lost him when I couldn’t see.
“I didn’t know where he had finished. I was gobsmacked.”
Gifford said: “I’m over the moon with that but I suppose I will be bitterly disappointed tonight. He just got outstayed up the hill. There were no excuses, he was not fluent at the last but you have got to jump them all.
“He’s a smashing horse and hopefully we will be back here next year for the Champion Hurdle.
“He’s every bit as good as we thought he was and he’s proven today he’s a very good horse.
“He’s had a light campaign and if he comes out of this bucking and squealing and if the ground is suitable, there’s always Aintree and Punchestown.
“Tony said he could have done with a stronger pace but we have no excuses.”
