Prince to step back in trip Paul Nolan's classy hurdler Noble Prince is set to drop to the minimum trip for the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park next month. The son of Montjeu barely came off the bridle when winning a conditions hurdle at Naas on his first outing of the campaign before being placed twice in Graded company. Nolan said: "We're happy with him and the plan is to go for the Red Mills at Gowran Park with him next. That is dropping back to two miles but we want to see how he gets on and then we can make a plan from there." He added: "We'll have a think about Cheltenham but we'll probably give him an entry in the County Hurdle, the Coral Cup and we might even look at the Champion Hurdle. We're keeping our options open at the moment." Alpha Ridge will bid to break his duck over fences in the Grade 2 Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase at Naas on Saturday, weather permitting. The eight-year-old was beaten just a neck by China Rock on his fencing introduction at Galway before chasing home Pandorama in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse, but failed to land a blow in the Knight Frank Novice Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. Nolan said: "We were disappointed with him the last day as his jumping just fell to pieces, but he seems in good form at the moment." He added: "The lads at Naas are pretty hopeful racing will go ahead on Saturday and, all being well, Alpha Ridge will go there for the good novice chase. Hopefully he can get a win as he deserves it, but we're not going to go for a beginners' chase at this stage of the season."
