Trip concern but Joncol in great shape

Paul Nolan admits the trip is likely to be on the short side for Joncol when he makes his seasonal reappearance in a cracking renewal of the Poplar Square Chase at Naas on Saturday.

The six-year-old won three of his four starts over fences during his novice campaign, his only defeat coming in the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival, where he finished a creditable third.

Nolan feels running him over the minimum distance this weekend will stand him in good stead for the future and will wait to see how he emerges from the race before formulating a plan.

“We’re looking forward to him coming back and while the trip is a bit short of his ideal, we just want to get a run into him and sharpen up his jumping,” said Nolan.

“It’s a hell of a race for this early on in the season. There is heavy rain today and there are supposed to be floods tonight, so the ground should be plenty testing enough.

“We’re very pleased with the way our horse looks and he has strengthened up over the summer, so hopefully he’ll jump well on Saturday and come home safe.

“I suppose after this we’ll be talking about Christmas and we’ll have to see whether we run again in between now and then.

“He won’t go to the well too often and I have a plan in my mind, but I just want to see what happens on his first run back and take it from there.”

Nine runners go to post for the Grade Three contest including last year’s Arkle Trophy hero Forpadydeplasterer and Grade One winner Trafford Lad.

Made In Taipan and Tranquil Sea add further strength in depth, while Holly Tree, Selection Box, Lochan Lacha and Top Of The Rock complete the line-up.

Tom Cooper is hoping conditions do not become too testing for his stable star Forpadydeplasterer.

“He’s 100% and obviously it’s a very nice race,” said the Tralee handler.

“I think the ground is fine at the moment but we’ll just have to monitor it over the next 24 hours as if it becomes too testing, he may not run.

“You’d be happy enough to run at the minute but if it goes very heavy, we’ll have to see.

“He’s straight enough to run and after this we’ll have a look at the Tingle Creek, but we don’t want to bottom him out on soft ground at this stage of the season.

“We’ll just have to tread a bit carefully.”