Discorama likely to sidestep Cheltenham

Trainer Paul Nolan has confirmed Discorama is likely to sidestep the Cheltenham Festival unless he makes the cut for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle.

The five-year-old claimed the notable scalp of Blow By Blow when causing a 66-1 upset on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in December and has since been placed at Limerick and Thurles.

He was only seventh in a Grade Two at Naas last Sunday, however, and Nolan is keen to switch to handicap company if he heads to Prestbury Park, which would rule out the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, for which he holds an entry.

Nolan said: "He is entered in the Martin Pipe but is number 76 on the ballot.

"I'll talk to the lads (owners Andrew Gemmell and Thomas Friel) about it but if he doesn't get in, which seems likely, there is no point just making up the numbers running in the Albert Bartlett as he is probably 20lb below that standard."