CHELTENHAM FEVER might be catching many but not Paul Nolan, who yesterday confirmed his dual Grade One-winning chaser Joncol will skip the festival and wait for Punchestown in April.

Nolan took the Hennessy and John Durkan, winner out of the Ryanair at yesterday’s acceptance stage, and Joncol will instead be targeted at the Guinness Gold Cup.

“The horse will go to Punchestown providing the ground is safe at the time,” the Co Wexford trainer explained. “He is really learning to race now and Cheltenham is a bit too soon. We will give him more experience for Cheltenham next year. Hopefully it will be for the Gold Cup if he stays sound,” Nolan added.

Another Nolan Grade One winner going to the festival, however, is Shinrock Paddy, winner of the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial at Navan in December, who is a 6 to 1 shot with some firms for the three mile Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“He is more than likely to go straight to Cheltenham, although there is a winners race in Leopardstown soon,” Nolan said. “I am 80 per cent sure he will run in the Albert Bartlett and if not, the Neptune Hurdle. It is more than likely he will remain in both so we’ve the choice.”