Nolan needs Cheltenham rain for Conyers Hill

Paul Nolan is among a whole host of trainers hoping for rain ahead of the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday.

Nolan, who won the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival in March with Daily Present, has two entries in Ifiwerearichman and Conyers Hill.

Conyers Hill is quietly fancied by some having caught the eye on his seasonal reappearance at Limerick and has valuable course experience when a fair sixth in the Grand Annual in March.

“I don’t think Conyers Hill will run looking at the forecast,” said Nolan.

“It would be a shame because we have been aiming him at the race, he ran a cracker at Limerick and we fancied stepping him up in trip.

“The trouble is he must have a bit of an ease in the ground.

“It’s obviously been very dry as the cross-country race has been abandoned, but it’s a very tricky time of year for the clerks as they can’t just chuck a load of water on for this meeting because it will ruin it for later in the year when the rain does eventually come.

“I’d imagine we’ll leave him in on Monday in the hope the forecast might change.”

Ifiwerearichman won at Punchestown in December and still had a chance in a Grade Three eventually won by Lecky Watson when falling at the last back in January.

He was put up 4lb for that run and his UK mark is 7lb higher than his rating in Ireland.

“He’s gone up in the best part of a stone for not winning when you take that into account, so I would imagine that will mean he stays at home,” said Nolan.