JIM OLD was yesterday satisfied with the condition of Cheltenham racecourse as he puts the finishing touches to Collier Bay's Smurfit Champion Hurdle bid. Old, who walked the course earlier yesterday, said: "The course is good. Thank God they've watered!"
"It is good as well," he emphasised. "Which is advantage to the good-ground horses.
Clerk of the course Philip Arkwright's official report said: "The going is good on both courses. We've had one millimetre of rain, making a total of four millimetres over the last 36 hours.
"We are continuing to water selectively to maintain good ground as there is unlikely to be any more rain for the next few days."
Collier Bay will, tomorrow, bid to repeat last year's memorable Champion Hurdle victory and is reported in good form for his attempt at back-to-back wins. "Collier Bay is well and on course for Tuesday," added Old.
The Wroughton trainer will have four or five runners at the Festival, with Yahmi in the Hamlet Extra Mild Cigars Gold Card Handicap Hurdle joining Collier Bay on the opening day and "two or three" in the bumper on Wednesday.
But Chai-Yo is doubtful for the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle on Thursday. He was travelling strongly with the leaders when taking a crashing fall two out in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday.
And Old remarked: "Chai-Yo is shaken but not stirred after the fall, he was going really well at the time. He must be doubtful for the County after a fall like that."
David Nicholson has confirmed Sanmartino as a definite runner in the £175,000-added first-day feature. "Sanmartino runs in the Champion Hurdle and Richard Dunwoody will ride him," he said yesterday.
Sanmartino, currently priced at 12 to 1 with Ladbrokes and 14 to 1 with William Hill, goes into the big race unbeaten in three novice events. Connections had been toying with the idea of running the 1995 Ebor winner in the opening Citroen Supreme Novices' Hurdle but, with the injury to Nicholson's leading Champion Hurdle candidate Relkeel, Sanmartino will now bid to lift the hurdlers' crown.
Relkeel on Saturday morning pulled up very lame in his near-hind. And Nicholson explained: "Basically Relkeel has fractured his pelvis. It is too early to say how long he will be off."
In contrast to Old's squad, the Jackdaws Castle trainer will be represented by a 20 plus team at prestigious meeting, one of the strongest assembled for the three-day fixture.
Gordon Richards yesterday warned that he may withdraw The Grey Monk from his Gold Cup team. He is worried that the going at Cheltenham will be too firm for last month's Haydock winner who is quoted at 10 to 1 for Thursday's showpiece event by Ladbrokes.
"I think it will be good to firm by Thursday. There is lovely weather coming and if it wasn't nearly that why would they be watering two days before the Festival?" the Greystoke trainer said.
"I am a bit worried about it for The Grey Monk because he definitely wants a cut in the ground. I'll have to weigh things up on Tuesday but I don't race horses to hurt them.
Richards also has Addington Boy, One Man and Unguided Missile in the Gold Cup but played down his chance of filling the first four places, 14 years after Michael Dickinson sent out the first five home in the race.
"It should be a million to one!" he said. "In 1983 there were only seven or eight runners altogether. Our Gold Cup horses will go down to Cheltenham on Wednesday. Everyone seems to think it's a million miles away but it's only three or four hours from here.
Bijou d'Inde's Dubai World Cup prep-race ended in disappointment on the sand at Nad Al Sheba yesterday when Mark Johnston's runner finished last of four behind Doreg.
Dorcg, ridden by Brett Doyle, streaked home in the nine-furlong conditions event by seven and a half lengths from Hammerstein (Frankie Dettori), with Key Of Luck a length and three-quarters back in third and Bijou d'Inde a further length and threequarters away in fourth.
Frankie Dettori win the final race at Nad Al Sheba last evening aboard the Saced bin Suroor-trained Kalabo. Contesting a mile and a half handicap Kalabo beat Sulb by two lengths. Richard Hills was also successful when driving home Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum's Rasas by a neck in the six furlong handicap.
Helissio's Dubai World Cup on March 29th has yet to be confirmed, but the Arc de Triomphe winner could well be given the thumbs up after working well on sand at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday evening. The Elie Lellouche charge worked a mile in tandem with two other horses, including Gay Kelleway's Sorbie Tower, pulling clear in the final two furlongs in a time of 1m 38.69s.
