Paul Nicholls, is not worried about the possibility of fast ground at Newbury for the upcoming Betfair Hurdle card on Saturday.
Due to winter watering restrictions, the officials at Newbury are unable to water the course before the meeting, and with a forecast for dry and cold weather, the clerk of the course has contacted trainers to warn of the likelihood of “good to firm” ground on Saturday.
Despite the potential risk, Nicholls, who has won the championship 13 times, intends to run some of his top horses, including Greaneteen, Hitman, and McFabulous, if the ground is deemed “safe”.
“I’d worked out that they might struggle a little bit but if they can’t water, they can’t water,” said a phlegmatic Nicholls. “What can they do? It’s no-one’s fault and just the way everything is.
“I feel for them a bit but you’ve just got to run good-ground horses and all mine that are going to run will be fine because I’ve saved them hoping it would be better ground.”
