Fine Theatre winning his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
Fine Theatre is likely to revert to hurdles following his early exit in the Becher Chase at Aintree.
Paul Nolan was hopeful his charge would put up a bold show over the Grand National fences, but he only made it as far as the second fence before coming to grief.
The eight-year-old has returned to Ireland none the worse, and Nolan is hoping he can bounce back to form.
He said: “It was disappointing to go that far and get no race at all.
“If he’d not jumped the first so well I’d have said we’d made a mistake by not schooling him over the National fences at the Curragh, but he flew the first and then came down at the second.
“It was disappointing, but he came home a fresh horse and we’ll probably go back over hurdles with him now.
“He’s rated a good bit lower over hurdles, so that will hopefully give him a better chance of winning.
“We just decided to send him to Aintree because we thought the fences might light him up, but it didn’t last long unfortunately.”
The Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer also provided an update on the talented Discorama.
The five-year-old made an impressive debut over fences at Naas last month, but could only finish fifth when stepped up to Grade One level in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse.
“He came out of the race well — Bryan (Cooper) wasn’t hard on him once he wasn’t going to win,” Nolan said.
“The ground was a bit quicker than it was in Naas and he was just out of his comfort zone.
“I think he wants three miles on that sort of ground and probably wants it softer ideally.
“We’ll see where we go from here. We could try him in a handicap and see how we go.”
