Somersby runs in Champion

Somersby will run in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase next Wednesday, rather than the Ryanair Chase a day later.

Henrietta Knight's seven-year-old will take his chance over the two-mile feature at the Cheltenham Festival as his owner, Camilla Rodford, is to undergo chemotherapy on the day of the Ryanair.

Knight said: "Mrs Radford is ill at the moment and is having chemotherapy on Thursday next week, so Somersby will run on Wednesday so that she can come and see him.

"He goes to the race on Wednesday, whatever the weather, whether it's rain or snow. It may not be perfect but it's not influenced by anything other than family misfortunes.

"I had thought that the treatment could be changed if necessary but it has to be booked two or three weeks ahead in London. It's all done very scientifically and it can't be changed. If they water the course and then it rains on top, that would certainly suit him as he likes the ground soft."

Officials at Cheltenham have been watering the Old Course to prevent the prospect of fast ground at the Festival, which starts on Tuesday.

Following a predominantly dry forecast for the next few days, four millimetres was applied to the track yesterday, with the same amount due to be administered today.

The Old Course is used on the first two days of the meeting and the New Course will be in action on Thursday and Friday.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "There may be light rain at the weekend and then it's forecast to be predominately dry."

The Old Course was described as good to soft, good in places after the watering yesterday, with the New Course and the cross-country track good, good to soft in places.