Noble Prince out, but namesake looks each-way Paddy Power value
Published:Noble Prince would have been the each-way selection of many in the Paddy Power Gold Cup odds, but his withdrawal means that punters will need to look elsewhere for a selection.
Trainer Paul Nolan has instead opted to run Noble Prince over 2m at Navan and his removal has had a slight shake up on the Paddy Power Gold Cup betting.
However, namesake Noble Alan has remained a big price in the Cheltenham odds at 20/1 and is due a big performance in a valuable race.
Noble Alan has largely been campaigned over 2m by trainer Nicky Richards in recent seasons with mixed results, but is being stepped up to 2m4f for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
The horse has only run over this distance or further on two occasions in the past and both times has been in contention for victory in the closing stages.
But his jumping has let him down at pivotal times in both, causing him to unseat regular jockey Brian Harding.
The first was at Cheltenham in the Vote AP Gold Cup 11 months ago and he looked even more of a certain winner at Market Rasen in September when doing something similar.
The pace is likely to be quick in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and this could play into the hands of Noble Alan, who will be waited with towards the rear of the field and gradually allowed to move into closer contention as the race unfolds.
Similar tactics worked a treat with Exotic Dancer in the 2006 Paddy Power Gold Cup as he sat last virtually all of the way around Cheltenham before being brought to challenge with three fences remaining.
A clear round of jumping should see Noble Alan finish in the first four and the size of his price certainly makes the risk worth taking.
