Nolan keen to kick on with Noble Prince

Men of the moment Paul Nolan and Alain Cawley will try to lift another big weekend prize at Gowran on Saturday with Noble Prince set to take his chance in the Red Mills Hurdle.

The Des Sharkey-owned gelding was a model of consistency throughout 2009, and rounded off the year with third in the Grade Two Christmas Hurdle over three miles at Leopardstown.

'We are hoping there's better to come from Noble Prince,' said Nolan, who together with Cawley celebrated the biggest success of his career when Joncol lifted the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday.

'He'll probably go for the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran this weekend, he's in very good shape.

'We are dropping right back to the minimum trip, but the ground will be very testing so I don't think that will be an issue.

'He'll probably be better on nicer ground than Gowran is going to be, it is very testing at the moment.

'We have entered him in the World Hurdle and the Champion but more than likely he will run in one of the handicaps, either the Coral Cup or the County Hurdle. We'll have to see what the English handicapper does to him.'

Nolan and Cawley have also bagged the Grade One John Durkan with Joncol this season, while Shinrock Paddy romped away with the Barry & Sandra Kelly Novice Hurdle at Navan for yet another top-level prize.

Among the opposition could be the Willie Mullins-trained Quevega, brilliant winner of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last March.

Her jockey Ruby Walsh has the likes of Kauto Star to look forward to next month but is sweet on the six-year-old mare repeating her Festival exploits.

He told Racing UK: 'I'm really looking forward to riding Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle Race.

'She won the race impressively last year and felt in great form when I rode her recently.'