'No doubt' Newmill will defend crown

John Murphy has moved to reassure punters reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Newmill’s entry in the Champion Hurdle is just a precaution.

The nine-year-old slammed Macs Joy by nine lengths in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran, but Murphy insists his stable star will be defending his two-mile Champion Chase crown, unless the ground is bottomless.