Setback delays Etoile comeback

Paul Nolan ruled exciting second-season chaser Accordion Etoile out until next year after the Grade One winner met with a setback in training.

The seven-year-old burst onto the novice chasing scene when landing a Grade Two event at Cheltenham’s November meeting in 2006.

However, he failed to follow up that victory and tasted defeat on his following three starts before coming of age in the Swordlestown Cup at the Punchestown Festival.

That meeting, along with the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March – for which he is a best-priced 20-1 chance with totesport and Stan James - feature among Accordion Etoile’s targets once he has made a full recovery.

“You probably won’t seem him out until the new year as he had a minor setback and we are giving him a proper break,” said Nolan.

“He is still on the go and is ticking over but he is a spring horse, and came good in the spring last year, so we will keep him for Cheltenham and Punchestown.

“I would prefer to keep him to two miles but it all depends on how things pan out. His main aim would be the Queen Mother but he is going to have to improve to beat the likes of Newmill, Kauto Star and Voy Por Ustedes.”

Nolan will be represented at the Open meeting by up-and-coming hurdler Cuan Na Grai.

The five year-old plundered the Galway Hurdle in the summer and will bid to follow in the footsteps of Accordion Etoile, who landed the Greatwood Hurdle at Prestbury Park in 2004.

“It is more than likely he will go to Cheltenham in November provided the ground is good to yielding,” added Nolan.

“It is not that far away now so he will probably have to go straight there without a prep run. It looks a good race with Detroit City likely to run and a race like that always helps to point the way for the rest of the season.

“You really need to be winning races like that if you want to be a Champion Hurdle contender. My horse has only won a handicap and will need to keep on improving to take on better horses off level weights.”