Nickname gets the go-ahead for Queen Mother tilt

MARTIN BRASSIL has declared himself happy with conditions at Cheltenham ahead of Nickname’s assault on the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

The County Kildare handler arrived at the track early on Monday and was happy with the state of the ground, which is now soft, good to soft in places on the old course.

Brassil, who is sending out just his second Festival runner following Miss Roberto’s unplaced effort in the 1997 Triumph Hurdle, said: “I thought it was dead and there are a few soft patches knocking about, which isn’t bad news for us.