Noland pips stablemate in Aon Noland, who was set to be retired after pulling up at Cheltenham, prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Grade Two Aon Chase at Newbury with Paul Nicholls saddling the first two home. The ten year old had a head to spare at the line from stablemate, and odds-on favourite, What A Friend under Tony McCoy in a driving finish with Fair Along three quarters of a length back in third. Noland was always to the fore of a decent gallop and was left in the lead out in the country as Carronhills dropped out and Fair Along made one or two mistakes. He was rejoined by the enthusiastic Fair Along as they left the far side and he appeared to be in trouble when making a mistake at the cross-fence leaving Fair Along in front with What A Friend stalking. However, he came back onto the bridle and outjumped his rivals in the home straight which made the difference. What A Friend, who had raced on and off the bridle, gradually closed between the final two fences and was switched inside and out by Harry Skelton as he tried to nurse the enigmatic eight year old to the front. They laid down a strong challenge in the run to the line as Fair Along also rallied in the closing stages but the line came just in time for the John Hales' owned winner. McCoy, who dismounted after the line, said: "He's obviously got a tongue-tie on and has always had a bit of a wind problem. "But he gave me his all on that tiring ground and after the line I didn't think it was fair to have me on his back while he was struggling to get his breath back. "I rode him at Cheltenham the last day and he ran very disappointingly and didn't give me much of a feel. "But when I came back in he was prancing around the parade ring and I told Paul that I wasn't sure whether he was just having a bit of a laugh at me. "It was a good, tough performance by the horse." Nicholls added: "I'm obviously delighted that he's won and AP was adamant that we gave him one more run after his last race. "With hindsight the Cheltenham race probably wasn't the best race to run him in, but it suited him today. "He's finished a little bit distressed and his wind is still getting him even though he's had operations and had a tongue-tie on. "With the problems that he's had it's been very hard to get him back but it's testament to the horse's ability and class that he's won." Nicholls is now considering running Noland in the totesport Bowl at Aintree, a race he won with What A Friend last year. The trainer is considering employing blinkers on that horse in the Gold Cup. "What A Friend's run was adequate. Harry (Skelton) said from the minute he jumped off he was hating the ground," continued Nicholls. "He'll be better on better ground and I might just put a pair of blinkers on him in the Gold Cup. "You'd never know with him. If it came up good ground on the day he could run a blinder. "You'd definitely let him take his chance and one race I'd love to run him in is the Grand National, although it might be a year too soon. "But if it's very soft at Cheltenham, we might miss the race and find something at Aintree."
