Paul Nolan is considering where to send Noble Prince following another excellent effort in defeat at Leopardstown last week, with the 2012 Cheltenham Festival rapidly approaching.
The eight-year-old landed the inaugural Jewson Novices' Chase , defeating the likes of Wishfull Thinking and Loosen My Load, at last season's Cheltenham Festival and a return to Prestbury Park for the Ryanair Chase is very much on his agenda.
Noble Prince has been running with credit over shorter distances so far this season, winning at Naas prior to chasing home Big Zeb twice, most recently in Leopardstown's Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase. Noble Prince has continued on an upward curve this season and the figures suggest his latest run was his best yet, earning himself a Timeform rating of 160 in the process.
"He's finished second again but we were delighted with the run and obviously he is going to benefit from a step up in trip again," said Nolan.
"Having said that, Tony (McCoy) got off him the other day and said it would also have suited him better if they'd gone a faster pace.
"In the two-mile conditions races in Ireland they don't seem to go as fast as they do in England, and that doesn't really help him.
"The Ryanair Chase (for which he's currently 7.6 with
Betfair) will be his target - that will be his only entry at Cheltenham.
"I'll have a chat with the owner in the next couple of days and decide whether he's going to run again before Cheltenham and if he is, where that will be.
"There are options for him over all sorts of different trips, so I'll have a chat with the owner and see which way we're going to go."
Noble Prince's season has mirrored last year to some degree, with Nolan's stable star racing over two miles before peaking at the Cheltenham Festival over the further trip.
His current Timeform master rating would make him competitive in an average renewal in the Ryanair and, if likely improvement for the step up in trip is factored in, Noble Prince could well be the one they have to beat come March.
Nolan's other stable-star, Joncol, was today ruled out for the rest of the season. The nine-year-old chaser, rated 159 with Timeform, finished a disappointing seventh in the Lexus Chase and it has since been reported that he suffered a tendon injury during the race.
Nolan has stated that if all is well Joncol will be back next season, once again to contest the John Durkan and the Lexus Chase.
