Noble win for Irish in Cheltenham opener

St. Patrick's Day at Cheltenham has started off in the best possible way for the Irish with another winner, this time Noble Prince from the Paul Nolan yard.

Noble Prince (4/1) was confidently ridden by Tony McCoy and tracked the front-running favourite Wishful Thinking from halfway before going past at the last fence for an easy success.

The favourite made a mistake at the last, but kept on for second place ahead of the Henry DeBromhead trained Loosen My Load.

This was the 10th Irish trained winner of the week so far and the first of the meeting for McCoy. it was also McCoy's 200 winner in Britain this season.

McCoy said: "It's much easier riding horses that are going well than those that are not.

"I haven't ridden many horses for the Nolans, but Dave Roberts (agent) got me this.

"His form was pretty good behind Realt Dubh in the (Irish) Arkle and the better ground helped him today, being by Montjeu.

"I'd forgotten I only needed one more for my 200th winner of the season."

Nolan added: "This is one of the best days of my life.

"I'm delighted for the owner and I'm grateful he brought the horse to me.

"AP (McCoy) was great on him - he crept round and when we wanted a big jump at the last we got one.

"McCoy had to keep squeezing him but he just kept finding. He was foot-perfect and although he got shuffled back a bit he finished well up the hill.

"You don't wish horses to make mistakes, but when they are upsides like that at the last I was quite pleased when the other horse (Wishfull Thinking) didn't jump it cleanly.

"There was no way we were ever going to go for Arkle or the RSA, this was his race. He is just a pure galloper.

"Hopefully we will have a few more of these days."