Noble Prince has Coral Cup aim

Noble Prince & Tony McCoy after winning the Jewson at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011
(Healy Racing Photos)

Paul Nolan's nine-year-old disappointed on his seasonal reappearance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree, after which a foot problem was discovered.

Noble Prince, who won the 2011 Jewson Novices' Chase at the Festival, has not raced since the Old Roan in October, but is now back in full training.

"He had to have some time off after splitting his hoof in Aintree, but he's back cantering now and seems well," said Co Wexford based Nolan.

"It's a case of so far, so good with him and, hopefully, if everything continues the right way, we'll have him back in time for Cheltenham.

"We'll probably give him a prep run over hurdles somewhere and then go to Cheltenham, where he could have a go at the Coral Cup.

"He ran well in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham a few years ago when he was fifth behind Thousand Stars and we probably picked the wrong race - we probably should have gone for the Coral Cup then.

"Fingers crossed everything continues to go well."