Brassil go-ahead for Nickname

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.

“I wouldn’t mind a bit of rain to stop it becoming really dead. As it stands, unless something really dramatic happens, he will run. It’s his first time away for us and he’s taking it great. He’s a grand sort of horse.”

The eight-year-old is virtually an unstoppable force in his native Ireland and has won his last four starts, all of which have come on testing ground.

Brassil’s charge was one of 12 horses declared for the two-mile championship event, along with Well Chief, who finished runner-up to Moscow Flyer in the 2005 renewal.

David Pipe’s eight-year-old returned from a long lay-off at Newbury last month when winning the Game Spirit Chase.

Despite holding a handful of great chances at the Festival, Pipe believes Well Chief is his ’banker’ of the meeting.

“He’s in great form, he did his last piece of work this morning and he is obviously our banker of the week,” he said.

“On form he looks like the one they all have to beat, with luck in running. He has shown that he is still up to producing his old form when he won at Newbury and he is the main one.

“It doesn’t matter who you are though, you need that luck in running, if you follow the wrong horse it could bring you down. I thought he was more professional at Newbury than he has been previously, especially in his jumping.

“Don’t forget that when he was racing with the best, Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop, he was only very young. He is only eight now so in theory he should still be coming to himself,” Pipe told At The Races.

Runner-up that day, Ashley Brook, will also go to post along with Voy Por Ustedes, who disappointingly unseated in the Game Spirit.

Ireland will be represented by last year’s winner Newmill, impressive over hurdles recently, and by Justified.

Others declared are Dempsey and Mister McGoldrick for Carl Llewellyn, Oneway, River City and French outsiders Sybellius D’Artaix and Marble Garden.

Monet’s Garden was an absentee, however, meaning he will contest the Ryanair Chase instead.