RACING: Hopes are rising in the JP McManus camp that the Smurfit Champion Hurdle hope Like-A-Butterfly will get the chance to run in Cheltenham's opening day feature after all.
The Cheltenham authorities' decision to water the track last week increased fears that the AIG winner would have to skip the festival because of ground conditions. However, McManus's racing manager Frank Berry yesterday indicated the mare is almost certain to run in the Champion Hurdle.
"Everything is fine with her at the minute and as long as it doesn't get too dry we'll be fine. We're certainly not panicking. In fact things are A1 at the minute.
"The ground at Cheltenham is good and we would be reasonably happy with that. They had a nice day's rain there last Friday," he said.
The famous McManus colours may not feature in the festival's other highlight, the Gold Cup, however. The Francois Doumen- trained First Gold is a Gold Cup outsider but the McManus team have not ruled out a switch to Tuesday's William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase.
"He will work on Wednesday and we'll make a decision on Thursday. He is no certainty to run in the Gold Cup. He could easily go for the handicap instead," Berry added.
The finishing touches are being put to the McManus team for Cheltenham and even though there is a lack of strength in the novices department, the green and gold colours will still be powerfully represented.
"We will have some interest in the handicaps. Christy (Roche) has Youlneverwalkalone in the William Hill and Risk Accessor in the Kim Muir.
"Edward O'Grady will probably have two, so will Arthur Moore and Jonjo O'Neill will have a couple in the same races the Irish-based horses are going for," Berry said.
The going at Cheltenham was officially "good" yesterday and clerk of the course Simon Claisse reported: "Ideally we would like to get another 12mms of rain and it looks like we're going to get that. I'm glad now we watered last week."
Ruby Walsh's decision to ride Azertyuiop rather than Adamant Approach in the Arkle has copper-fastened the Paul Nicholls- trained horse's position as market leader. Walsh will be on Commanche Court in the Gold Cup and that horse was at Leopardstown yesterday morning putting the finishing touches to his preparation.
