Somersby confirmed for Champion Chase

Somersby will definitely 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 two miles at the Cheltenham Festival as his owner, Camilla Radford, is to have chemotherapy on the day of the Ryanair.

Knight said: "The fact is that Mrs Radford is ill at the moment and is having chemotherapy on Thursday next week, so he will run on Wednesday so that she can come and see him. He goes to the race whatever the weather, whether it is raining or snowing or whatever it is."

The handler went on: "It may not be perfect, but it's not influenced by anything other than family misfortunes. I had thought 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."

Meanwhile, William Hill are reporting support for the Irish contingent ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, with Willie Mullins trimmed to 5/1 from 13/2 to take the Thomas Pink Leading Trainer Award, and Paul Townend cut to 16/1 from 25/1 for the Leading Jockey Title.

In comparison, Paul Nicholls has been pushed out to 13/8 from 11/8, whilst Ruby Walsh has also been weak in the market, now 11/8 from 6/5.

Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, explained: "With Willie Mullins boasting such a strong team, the punters have spied some value away from the market principles Nicholls and Henderson, so we’ve cut him to 11/2 from 13/2 for the title. And with Paul Townend teaming up with the Irish Champion trainer for several top rides, some clearly thought he was overpriced at 25s".

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