Newmill swerves weekend assignments

NEWMILL, winner of last year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, could head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after bypassing two possible engagements this weekend.

John Murphy entered his stable star in the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle at Naas today and Sunday’s ladbrokes.com Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse but heavy ground scuppered Newmill’s chances of a run.

Murphy will now go back to the drawing board with his nine-year-old, although he would be unconcerned if he defended his Champion Chase crown without a prep run.