Nolan's mixed feelings after small Cheltenham raiding party did him proud Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford trainer Paul Nolan was amongst the winners at his local track yesterday when Fine Theatre (winning on the St. Patrick’s day card there for the second year running) took the valuable Arctic Tack Stud Veterans Handicap Chase in the hands of Sean O’Keeffe. It was a fifteenth winner of the domestic season for Nolan, who reflected with mixed feelings on last week’s proceedings at Cheltenham where two of his four runners were placed. “I was disappointed but still happy that Latest Exhibition ran so well (beaten a neck in second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle). It’s a devil to get so close when you haven’t got much ammunition. “If you picked up a joystick in a game you couldn’t have put him in a better position at any stage. Bryan (Cooper) gave him a super ride and he was just outgunned on the day. “There is not much between the three of them (Monkfish, Latest Exhibition and Fury Road) if they progress and keep sound. Discorama, runner-up in the previous two years at the Cheltenham Festival, finished a gallant third on his first run after wind surgery behind The Conditional in the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day. “Discorama ran his race, he ran a cracker. He was probably a little bit fresh, a little too keen early, which normally he’s not. “Fitzhenry (sixth, beaten nine lengths in the Kim Muir behind Milan Native) plugged on well. Maybe Patrick (Mullins) tracked the wrong horse - it just didn’t work out for him on the day. “Discorama and Fitzhenry are both entered in the Irish National and that’s where both of them would go all being well but let’s see what will happen.”
