Nolan waits on rain for duo Shinrock Paddy and Noble Prince are unlikely to start their seasons off at Thurles on Thursday. The Paul Nolan-trained pair are entered in the Cat Busters Hurdle and the Welcome Home Liam McCarthy Beginners Chase respectively, but the ground is currently too firm for the pair of the them. Grade One-winning hurdler Shinrock Paddy was last seen pulling up at the Cheltenham Festival while Noble Prince was fourth to Quevega at Punchestown. "The ground looks like it is going to be too good so more than likely we'll have to delay it a little bit longer, we need rain now," said Nolan. "Everything is OK with Shinrock but he is a horse who appreciates a good cut in the ground. "He's ready to go, but we are just waiting for that little break in the weather. We are due a bit of frost this week and normally when that comes the rain is not too far behind. "I'd say he wants two-and-a-half-miles-plus and we'll be aiming for those sort of races. If we decide to go chasing mid-season we'll see what happens, but as it stands we're sticking to hurdles. "Noble Prince doesn't want it that soft, but just for his first run of the season I'd prefer it yielding at least. "We're very pleased with him, he's schooling well, he's a nice horse and hopefully we'll be lucky with him this season."
