PUNCHESTOWN REPORT: MAYBE IT is the Celtic links between Ireland and Wales, but after Sam Thomas steered Noland to victory in yesterday's John Durkan Memorial Chase the Punchestown crowd left no one in doubt about their support for the under-fire jockey.
Thomas's demotion from the ride on Master Minded in last Saturday's Tingle Creek at Sandown had propelled him into the sort of media storm that is no quieter for being in its eye.
A lack of confidence after a series of blunders in other big races was the reasoning from trainer Paul Nicholls for putting Tony McCoy on Master Minded, ignoring the rather obvious evidence that the best way to improve a jockey's confidence is to put him on the best horse.
Such a public lack of faith from Britain's champion trainer could have crumbled a lesser individual, but the 24-year-old from Abergavenny exhibited all the assurance yesterday that he showed when winning the Gold Cup on Denman last March.
Noland took advantage of a bad mistake by The Listener at the fourth-last to grab the initiative, and although last year's Durkan winner reduced the margin to half a length at the line, Thomas felt later that his horse was idling.
"I've been in the press for the wrong reasons and it has been a rough few weeks," he said. "But this is brilliant. Winning a big race like that is perfect.
"Thanks to the owner (John Hales), and the horse was able to use his turn of foot on very heavy ground, which shows how good he is."
Good enough for some firms to make Noland a 4 to 1 favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, a race that looks to fall perfectly into Nicholls's plans.
"John Hales is very keen on the King George but I'm dead against it. I'd like to keep him at middle-distances this year and then step up. This was a perfect race for him," Nicholls said. "It's really good for Sam who needed that more than anybody."
Nick Mitchell was thrilled to see The Listener bounce back to form following a below-par effort at Down Royal last time. All roads now lead to the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th.
"It's just good to see him back to his old form, and that mistake down the back may just have cost us, but you never know," said Mitchell.
The former Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition came home third and could now step back up to three miles for the Lexus Chase.
"I'm happy enough. The ground was very soft for him," said trainer Mouse Morris.
Bookmaker reaction was not as forgiving though, and War Of Attrition has been pushed back out to as high as 25 to 1 to regain the Gold Cup in March.
Paddy Flood finished fourth in the big race on board Mansony, but he had a rougher time in the following handicap chase when he had a fall from View Mount Prince and was stood down until Saturday due to severe bruising to his right thigh. The race went to Kilcrea Castle, who beat Bluesea Cracker in a close finish and then survived a stewards inquiry.
Flood's day didn't get any better either as Tom Doyle successfully substituted for him on the favourite Joncol, who overhauled the pace-forcing Pesoto in the dying strides of the Beginners Chase.
As well as Thomas, another jockey to make the most of Ruby Walsh's absence was rising star Paul Townend, who won the opening maiden hurdle on board Persian City in a good finish with Shirley Casper.
"The horse seems to be improving all the time. When he was running in bumpers I didn't think that he would win a competitive maiden around here," said Mullins.
The 9 to 4 second favourite Bobs Display made it third time lucky after two second placings when getting the better of a sustained battle with Keats Dream in the bumper.
