Latest Exhibition (nearest) fights it out with Longhouse Poet and Cobbler's Way (hidden)© Photo Healy Racing
Paul Nolan was back in the big time at Leopardstown this afternoon when Latest Exhibition struck in the opening Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The Oscar gelding ran out a game victor of the Grade 1 contest as jockey Bryan Cooper also recorded a welcome winner in the spotlight. Cobbler's Way took them along in the two-mile-six contest but was joined going to the last by Longhouse Poet and Latest Exhibition.
It was Nolan's charge who got the better of Longhouse Poet on the run-in to record a hard fought two-length win.
The 7/2 winner was following up his Grade 2 defeat of Andy Dufresne at Navan in mid-December.
Enniscorthy handler Nolan had saddled his last Grade 1 winner back in December 2013 with Defy Logic and he said:-
“I'm delighted for Bryan, he's a Grade 1 big day jockey.
“I'm delighted for the lads at home, my brother James and for the owners, it was brilliant that they were able to hold on to him. But for them he wouldn't be with me. I take my hat off to them and they are why we are here today.
“It was probably the worst pressure day yet. You were hoping the form of the last day had worked out.
“When you step up to Grade 1 company you just don't know what will happen with horses, whether during the season will they continue to improve or will they regress for no reason and just won't perform and then your season is over.
“This guy in fairness to him, he races behind the bridle a little bit but he digs down deep. He done it there today on ground that's the quickest he's ran on.
“He's not going to kick away and win ten lengths. He won his bumper easily enough but he always has to work that little bit regardless of the trip.
“He proved against Abacadabras that he needed to step up from two miles at least. He's proven he can go on any ground, he's no slow by any means, he has a good cruising gear.
“He doesn't lose too much ground when they do quicken. Rachael gave him a great ride that day but he just wasn't man enough and didn't know enough. I'd say if he went two miles again you'd have to make plenty of use of him.”
When asked if the Albert Bartlett would now be on the agenda he added:-
“We'll talk about that. I'd say yes but we'll leave our options open and we'll run the horse in the best race for him.
“We'll talk with Bryan, he's the one that's going to be riding him, so he'll know more than us.”
Cooper added:- “We went a good gallop from halfway and he stayed well. I was a bit worried turning in but he kept on really well after the last.
“The further he goes the better he is. He’ll definitely go three miles and that will be more of a help to him at Cheltenham. He jumped very well and everything went to plan.
“He probably wouldn’t mind a bit more ease in the ground but he handled it well. It’s genuine yielding ground.
“Hurdles have really brought him alive and I’d say fences will suit him even better.
“It’s great to ride this winner for Paul as he’s stuck by me when things have been very quiet over the past few years.”
Boylesports went 10/1 from 12/1 for the Albert Bartlett while Paddy Power shortened the winner into 13/2 from 12/1.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
