Paul Nolan blown away by Facile Vega

Paul Nolan was left stunned by Facile Vega's "phenomenal" display at Leopardstown on Saturday and is undecided whether Sandor Clegane will take on Willie Mullins’ charge in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Facile Vega quickened up with ease under Patrick Mullins to score by 12 lengths in the Goffs Future Stars (C&G) INH Flat Race, with Sandor Clegane a good second under Barry O’Neill.

The five-year-old, owned by the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, is now a warm order for the Champion Bumper after that aptly facile success.

Enniscorthy handler Nolan feels the winner now has his rivals digging for answers.

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 was having his first run since landing a Punchestown bumper on debut in early December and the Fame And Glory gelding will likely come on for the race.

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