Nolan waits on ground for Sardinia Trainer Paul Nolan will wait for better ground before plotting a route with ex-Flat recruit Sardinia. Closely related to Oaks winner Alexandrova and Derby third Masterofthehorse, Sardinia won one of two starts for Aidan O'Brien before being snapped up by Nolan for 50,000 guineas at Tattersalls last autumn. Sardinia beat the useful Waaheb on the level but finished well behind leading JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Ivan Grozny on his first attempt over hurdles at Naas earlier this month. Nolan felt his jumping let him down a bit that day and while he is entered for next month's Gala Retail Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, he will not take up that engagement. "He won't be going for the Grade One, he's a horse that isn't really going to handle the winter ground we've got at the moment," he said. "Hopefully he will come into his own on better ground and could be a nice horse for spring and early summer. "He only ran twice on the Flat for Aidan. He didn't jump that well first time, so we'd be looking to improve on that and he could be a nice horse."
