Chasing Next For Impressive Nicanor Last month´s Royal & SunAlliance Novices´ Hurdle hero Nicanor rewarded backers who had supported him into 9/10 favouritism with a one-length triumph in the Grade 1 Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa Champion Novice Hurdle.The winner earned a 14/1 quote from Cashmans for next year´s Irish Independent Arkle Chase and trainer Noel Meade admitted he is considering the shorter Cheltenham race as a more likely target than the Royal & SunAlliance Chase in March.'Ruby said that if he had just sat there he would never have gone off the bridle,' said Meade. 'He said the horse gave him a fantastic feel. I was worried about the ground because you can´t take chances with a horse like this.'Chasing has been the plan all along and I´ve always viewed him as a Gold Cup horse one day. We´d always thought the Royal & SunAlliance Chase would be his target but now maybe I ´m thinking he might be more of an Arkle horse because he showed a lot of speed.' Tony McCoy gained his first success of the week when Kinger Rocks, trained by Dermot Weld, captured the Flogas Ireland Novice Hurdle. 'She jumped well, travelled well and there was a good even pace,' said McCoy. 'She´s a mare to look forward to and she should win plenty more.' 85,087 CROWD FOR WEEK Yesterday´s crowd at Punchestown was 29,254, up from 25,092 in 2005. The total attendance at the four-day Festival was 85,087.
