Bay primed for World bid

Tidal Bay is unlikely to go anywhere for a racecourse gallop before his tilt at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 2008 Arkle Trophy hero seemed to have lost his way over fences but looked right back to his best when returning to the smaller obstacles for the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

Johnson is thrilled with the nine-year-old’s current condition and while one or two of his other Festival contenders could work after racing at Doncaster on Saturday, Tidal Bay is unlikely to be among them.

“He’s seems in good form and while some of the others might go somewhere to work, I’d say he’d be happy enough to stay at home,” said Johnson.

“He isn’t a horse who takes much getting fit so we’ll just keep him ticking over until Cheltenham and hope the ground is right.

“I really hope they don’t start watering there after the winter we’ve had.”

Johnson has a number of entries in some of the lesser races at the Festival but has yet to finalise plans.

One of his more intriguing entries is On Raglan Road, who is the only horse to beat Dunguib having lowered his colours in a Punchestown bumper before joining Johnson at the start of last season.

On Raglan Road has been sidelined by injury since taking a heavy fall at Aintree last April and Johnson is in no rush to decide on his target.

“He’s in really good form at the moment but we’ll just see how he goes,” said Johnson.

“He’s entered in the Coral Cup but I haven’t decided whether to run him or whether just to give him the season off, but I’m very happy with him.

“I’ve not sorted out the Cheltenham runners yet, but Stormy Weather could go for the Fred Winter, while Abbeybraney and Presenting Forever could run in the four-miler (National Hunt Chase).”