Walsh gets Prince back to winning ways

Noble Prince bounced back to his best, as he took the feature race at Thurles, the Listed John Meagher Memorial Chase, scoring under Ruby Walsh for Paul Nolan.

The nine-year-old son of Montjeu has always been a classy sort, however he had been out of form for the last while, with his last success coming at Naas way back in October of 2011.

Having opened at 9/2 with Paddy Power last night, the Des Sharkey owned bay drifted on-course from 5/1 to his starting price of 6s.

Settled towards the rear by Walsh (his first time to ride him), the winner moved closer as the field entered the home straight for the final time, and he was right in contention as they approached the second last.

He responded best to pressure on the run between the final two fences, and he jumped the last fractionally in front, going away on the run-in to score by three and a quarter lengths. Realt Dubh was sent off the 11/10 favourite, but he had to settle for second under Barry Geraghty for Noel Meade, while Fosters Cross was a further two and a half lengths back in third. Quito De La Roque was well-supported on-course from 9/4 to 13/8, but he could only manage a disappointing fourth under Davy Russell for Colm Murphy.

Paul Nolan said afterwards: "I blame myself for running him last year as he had a major problem and I was banging my head against a wall by running him.

"He should have had the season off as he had cracks down both hooves and we ran him with steel stitches in it.

"Normally it is a problem show-jumpers have and he just wasn't jumping which was causing him to be cowardly.

"He finished out no race last season and I'm delighted he won today as he is now back on track.

"I thought there were two horses that were better than me and coming here I thought he was down to a mark that he might have a chance in a big handicap in England.

"The handicapper won't put us up too much for that, hopefully."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes