Racing: Fast ground worries force Henderson to revise plans

After the deluge, the deliberation and for Nicky Henderson yesterday there was no doubt that not only has the course at Cheltenham quickly absorbed the downpours of last Friday, the track could be so dry by the middle of the week that the trainer will be forced to withdraw some of his horses.

After walking the course, the Lambourn trainer whose Cheltenham Festival record is second only to that of Martin Pipe among current licence holders, said: "If we get two days of drying ground they will be fairly humming around here come Tuesday. It will be quite quick out there.

"It seems softer by the stands than the other parts of the course, which in my opinion are good, and it is rather quicker at the top of the hill."

Henderson announced that Fondmort could switch to the Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase as opposed to the Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase because he greatly fears the participation of La Landiere. "I don't like the idea of giving La Landiere a stone as I think it is ridiculous and we could also run Hermes III and Scots Grey in the Mildmay of Flete."

The participation of Nas Na Riogh in the Triumph Hurdle could also be in doubt if the track continues to dry out. "I would be concerned about running her in the race on Thursday if the ground got quicker as she must have it on the soft side.

"And I think Chauvinist will now run on the opening day in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle rather than the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle on Wednesday as it might be much quicker ground by then."

Isio, Henderson's Irish Independent Arkle Trophy hope, was reported in great shape. "He did a lovely piece of work on Saturday morning and we are very happy with him."

Walking the course with Henderson was not enough for Henry Daly to confirm plans for Hand In Hand, who has the Arkle and Cathcart Chases as potential targets. "If the weather stays like this it will be good ground come Tuesday. The sun and wind is drying it out all the time," Daly said. "My preference for Hand In Hand would be the Cathcart given conditions."

Despite the ground, the Ludlow trainer still intends running Behrajan, the Pillar Property Chase winner, in the Gold Cup. "He's run well on good ground but obviously I would prefer it a bit softer to slow the others down," he said. "He was third here in the Stayers' Hurdle on good to firm ground so that should mean he should go on anything. He's in good order and we are hoping for the best."

One trainer who is not worried about how the ground rides tomorrow for the start of the meeting is Seamus Mullins who is anticipating a big run from Farmer Jack in the Arkle. "No trainer would want it firm, but we're not going to get that now and he proved he could handle the soft at Sandown. It wasn't the ground that beat him, it was probably just a better horse [Tarxien] on the day."

Charlie Swan has been booked to partner Liss A Paoraigh in the Stayers' Hurdle on Thursday. The mare, trained in Ireland by John Kiely, was supplemented for the £140,000-added contest at a cost of £7,000 on Saturday and is now 16-1.

Swan, with a total of 17 Festival wins, also partners another Irish mare Like-A-Butterfly in tomorrow's Champion Hurdle. Like-A-Butterfly was the most notable market mover yesterday for the race, being cut by Coral to 13-2 from 8-1.