Last-minute decision likely on Mighty challenge

Henry Daly will wait as long as possible for the ground to dry up before deciding whether Mighty Man gets the go-ahead for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The Shropshire trainer was out with his stick on the Cheltenham turf, which he described as “just soft”.

Mighty Man’s best efforts have been on good ground, finishing third to My Way De Solzen in last year’s renewal before beating his rival at Aintree.

He has been seen just twice this season, the latest being a victory in the Long Walk Hurdle on good to soft at Ascot.

“We just have to sit and see,” said Daly.

“We don’t really have to decide even until half an hour before the race if the ground is suitable.

“He’s very fit and ready to go. I would say he would probably run if it was good to soft, we just have to hope for decent weather.”

Mighty Man is 6-1 fourth-favourite behind Black Jack Ketchum with the race sponsors to build on Daly’s last two Festival winners, Palarshan and Young Spartacus, in 2003.

Daly has two decent prospects in Tuesday’s William Hill Trophy Chase through Jaunty Times and Alderburn but added that the latter was unlikely to run as the ground was too soft for him, although he had not confirmed this with the owner.