'No excuses' for Grai
Paul Nolan admitted there will be “no excuses” when smart novice hurdler Cuan Na Grai returns to the track in the Rathberrry & Glenview Studs Festival Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
The six-year-old created a huge impression winning the Galway Hurdle last August but subsequently disappointed at Cheltenham in November on ground that was reportedly too soft.
Cuan Na Grai also holds an engagement in a handicap at Fairyhouse two days later but Nolan is keen to keep him to novice company while he still can.
“We’ve no excuses now as the ground has come for him and it is more than likely he will go to Fairyhouse,” said Nolan.
“He’ll go for the novice event as, off a mark of 137, he is as well keeping to novice company.
“When you look at the novices around there will not be many rated as high as ours so it will be interesting.
“The ground is drying out big time. I had runners at Galway recently that came back slightly jarred up – it was plenty quick enough.
“We considered Liverpool but why travel over on a boat for similar prize money when the travelling can be a big issue?”
