Clegane likely to sidestep Cheltenham

Paul Nolan gave a run down on some of his stable stars after saddling a winner at Punchestown on Wednesday.

The Enniscorthy handler revealed that smart bumper horse Sandor Clegane could miss the Cheltenham festival and instead take up an engagement in a winners contest at Naas on Sunday.

The Fame And Glory gelding was second to highly impressive winner Facile Vega in Grade 2 company at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier in the month.

Stablemate Joyeux Machin could be in line for a rematch with Willie Mullins' exciting prospect, however, having chased him home on his debut at the Dublin track over Christmas.

Talking to Kevin O'Ryan on Racing TV Nolan said of Sandor Clegane:-

“We haven't been too hard on him and I wouldn't like to run him in too many bumpers . We'll see what happens on Sunday, where we go from there and whether we talk about Punchestown after that.

“It wasn't the plan but we discussed it with the owners and we're trying to do the best thing for the horse.

“Our minds are not fully made up yet and we'll be having a conversation before declarations on Sunday but it's more than likely."

Joyeux Machin opened his account in fine style at Navan last month and Nolan feels he might be a more suitable candidate for the Champion Bumper.

“Barry (O'Neill) was very happy with him and touch wood he's an uncomplicated horse. He's very laid back and we're very fond of him.

“With his demeanour he might be more suitable to go to Cheltenham than the other fella and that's the plan.

“We were very pleased the last day with the way he won. His run against Facile Vega, first time out, at Leopardstown over Christmas has worked out well enough.

“It's going to be very hard to beat him but you can't be afraid of one.”

Nolan tasted success at Cheltenham last season with Mrs Milner in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle and the Flemensfirth mare is set for a return to Prestbury Park.

“She's going for the Mares race, she's obviously better over the longer trip but it's very hard to go back and win another handicap at Cheltenham.

“We thought the Mares Hurdle was the race for her. She's in good form and hopefully we get her there in one piece.

“Hopefully she'll run a cracker. She's only been to Cheltenham twice, she was beaten in a photo finish and won well so she clearly likes the place.”

Another horse who has booked his ticket on the boat is the four-year-old Hms Seahorse who opened his account at the third time of asking over timber at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

“He goes for the Boodles. He's a horse that just does enough, he keeps trying and he seems to have a lovely bit of ability.

“He jumps well enough and hopefully he'll improve, he'll probably still have to improve.

“The last day was probably the worst run of his three runs. I think he's on a mark of 129 and we'll see what that looks like when we see what the other horses that finished in front of him have. We'll see what the English handicapper does with him.

“We're happy with where he is at the moment and the plan is to go to Cheltenham.”

Discorama won't be running at Cheltenham with connections structuring his campaign around another tilt at the Grand National.

“We discussed with Tom (Friel) and Andrew (Gemmell) and the lads want to go to Aintree and have another crack at it.

“We had no prep run last year after his wind op. He just had a little incident before a prep run in Naas and that didn't happen.

“He just wasn't fit enough. He's not a horse that stops and he did stop in Aintree when he looked like he was going to be, definitely, in the first three or four.

“He stopped and he still finished seventh. He obviously stays as he was just beaten in the four-miler. I think the better ground in Aintree, and the flatter track, might suit him because of his wind issues.”