Nolan plans Paddy programme Paul Nolan is weighing up the options for Shinrock Paddy in what could be a vintage season for novice hurdlers following his debut victory over timber at Punchestown earlier this week. The five-year-old was hugely impressive in his first couple of starts in National Hunt Flat events and finished a creditable eighth behind the brilliant Dunguib in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. Nolan was particularly impressed with the gelding's jumping as he made every yard of the running on Wednesday and feels there is plenty of improvement to come. "He jumped fantastic and it wasn't ideal that he had to make the running on his first run over hurdles," said Nolan. "It was a big ask for a youngster to bounce out like that but we knew he was carrying a fair bit of condition and he gave a good heave at the back of the second-last. "But Alain (Cawley) said once he gave him a couple of little flicks with the whip he was starting to quicken up and the further he'd have went the better he'd have been. "He's stripping an awful lot fitter now and is looking a lot fitter and better in himself. "He was very fresh in Punchestown but that's behind him now and he can only improve. "We'll have a chat with Barry (Connell, owner) and see whether we go to Cheltenham now for the Paddy Power meeting, or whether we go for a winners of one race somewhere. "There are so many good novice hurdlers in Ireland this season. There's Dunguib, Luksa Lad, Sweeps Hill and Some Present so it's an endless list of horses you're going to be trying to avoid. "You don't get to avoid them all the time so I think at that level, it's the most competitive year ever."
