Hms Seahorse (Sean O'Keeffe) winning at Navan© Photo Healy Racing
Paul Nolan is no stranger to success at the Cheltenham Festival and will be hoping to add to his tally with four possible runners at Prestbury Park this year.
The Enniscorthy trainer recorded the latest of his three Festival wins when Mrs Milner landed the Pertemps Final two years ago and he’s looking forward to bringing over a quartet of competitive runners next week including Hms Seahorse who is vying for favouritism at 8/1 with the sponsors in the Coral Cup.
“Hms Seahorse was very good the last day. He’s off a mark of 143 in England and hopefully he’ll improve,” Nolan told Racing TV.
“Since he was gelded he seems to be going the right way. His mind seems to be in a better place and hopefully he’ll give his owners a good run for their money.
“He ran well in the Boodles last year and it’s turned out to be a very good race finishing fourth behind Brazil and Gaelic Warrior.”
Nolan will be represented in the Boodles this year by Punchestown maiden winner Metamorpheus.
The ill-fated Latest Exhibition came within a neck of beating Monkfish in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2020 and Nolan is hoping Sandor Clegane can go one better in the three-mile test this year.
“We were a little bit disappointed the last day the way he went to the line. Hopefully we have our excuses for it and if he travels and takes to Cheltenham — we won’t have him over there too long — I think he’ll be a better horse than he was in Leopardstown.
“He’s bred to stay and the more rain that comes the better.”
The Fame And Glory gelding is as short as 8/1 with Paddy Power.
Western Zara has an number of entries over the next few weeks but the Kim Muir is the favoured option.
“She’s been maybe a tad unlucky but there still might be a handicap in her. She was third in Fairyhouse (Bar One Racing Porterstown Handicap Chase), stays well and might just be a mare that’s improving in the spring.
“We have a runner each day at Cheltenham and hopefully they can all run well for their owners.”
