Noble Prince to side-step Grade 1 options Noble Prince looks unlikely to take up his Grade 1 engagements at Leopardstown over Christmas. Paul Nolan's charge is entered in both the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase over two miles on December 27th and the Lexus Chase over three miles the following day. However, the 2011 Jewson Novices' Chase winner was well beaten in a handicap hurdle at Navan on Sunday and Nolan feels that Christmas may come too soon for him to revert to fences following that run. "He was a little bit unlucky at Navan as he was hampered two out and he nearly had his race run at that stage," said Nolan. "He normally needs a bit of a gap and we'll make a decision closer to the time, but it's more than likely he won't run in those better races over Christmas. "We might have a look what's around for him over hurdles and the Pertemps Hurdle (at Leopardstown on December 28th) could be a possible. If not we'll see what there is after Christmas."
