Cheltenham Festival News: Nolan wary of taking on "phenomenal" Facile Vega in Champion Bumper
- Planet Sport writer
- 8 February 2022
Paul Nolan has a very smart youngster in Sandor Clegane but even he was amazed by the manner of Facile Vega's showing at Leopardstown on Saturday. A rematch in the Champion Bumper isn't certain.
Paul Nolan tipped his cap to Facile Vega's "phenomenal" display at Leopardstown on Saturday after the Willie Mullins' gelding beat his Sandor Clegane by a full 12 lengths.
The beating has put a few doubts in Nolan's mind whether to put Sandor Clegane through the experience again in the upcoming Wetherby's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
Facile Vega quickened up without effort under Patrick Mullins to score by 12 lengths in the Goffs Future Stars (C&G) INH Flat Race, with Sandor Clegane in second under Barry O'Neill.
Mullins' five-year-old, owned by the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, was cut to 4-5 favourite for the Champion Bumper by William Hill after the facile success.
Enniscorthy handler Nolan feels the winner has plenty in his favour for Cheltenham.
Nolan said: "Sandor Clegane produced a really nice run, but it hard to see how you could reverse the form with the winner. He looks out of the ordinary.
"We were a good winner without him. Barry didn't give him a hard race. My fella got one flick behind the saddle, because Patrick (Mullins) went wide so fast that there was no point hitting him again, and I just thought the two horses quickened off the bend, but Patrick's horse quickened again and went away.
"He has to be as impressive an individual at the racetrack as I have ever seen. He looks phenomenal."
Sandor Clegane will likely come on for the race after a first run since landing a Punchestown bumper on debut in early December.
Yet Nolan is in two minds about taking on Facile Vega again so soon.
He added: "We will have to assess things. You are going to Cheltenham and you are going to have a hard race again. What has to happen to reverse the form?
"You can't be afraid. Life goes on and you have to deal with what you have. Horses have off-days.
"We're certainly not ruling it out. Basically, we have very good owners and everything will be discussed with them. You are not going to go over hurdles at this stage of the season and he is a big chasing type.
"We are adamant he handles soft ground very well, but we certainly have to plan for Cheltenham. But in my opinion, definitely Facile Vega would not want to turn up in the same form on the day."
