Nolan set for Sardinia trip Paul Nolan is looking forward to saddling a rare Royal Ascot runner as Sardinia prepares to take his chance in tomorrow's Ascot Stakes. As a half-brother to multiple Group One-winning mare Alexandrova, the son of Galileo is bred for the Flat game, but was sold on by Aidan O'Brien for 50,000 guineas last October after winning on his second start at Navan. He got off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt at Wexford in March, but was well-beaten in better jumping company at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting and finished last back on the level at Leopardstown last month. Nolan said: " He won his maiden hurdle for us and his jumping has improved, but we thought we'd give him a couple of runs back on the Flat, "To have a runner at a meeting like Royal Ascot is great and it will be a good experience for the owners. "He has a fantastic pedigree, but he's probably high enough in the handicap for what he's actually achieved. "Hopefully he'll run a respectable race and we'll all have a good day out." A total of 20 runners will go to post including O'Brien's Plinth, Nicky Henderson's Lieutenant Miller and the Charles Byrnes-trained Domination.
