Durkan delight for Noland

Paul Nicholls’ Noland stayed on strongly in the testing conditions to get the better of fellow British raider The Listener in a thrilling finish to the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Jockey Sam Thomas, stable jockey to trainer Paul Nicholls in the absence of the injured Ruby Walsh, was not given the ride on Master Minded in Saturday’s Tingle Creek after a crisis of confidence for the rider but he is now back in the winning groove at the highest level.