Williamson denies Ned Kelly will miss race

Lydia Hislop13 April 2012

Norman Williamson today scotched rumours that Ned Kelly, his mount in next Tuesday's Smurfit Champion Hurdle, would bypass the Cheltenham Festival event to avoid clashing with triple title-holder, Istabraq.

Since Ned Kelly won the Irish Champion Hurdle in January, it has been suggested owner John Magnier would not want to spoil Istabraq's chances of a record-breaking fourth success in the British version.

Istabraq is owned by Magnier's close friend and fellow Manchester United shareholder, J P McManus.

Today's Sun newspaper claimed to have proof of Magnier's reticence. It quoted the reply of Philip Fenton, an amateur rider attached to the Thurles yard of Ned Kelly's trainer Edward O'Grady, when quizzed on what would happen if Istabraq and Ned Kelly were together at the final flight.

"It's not going to happen as Ned Kelly will not be taking him on," Fenton is quoted as having told an audience of Killarney racegoers at their Cheltenham Festival preview night.

"As far as I know, Ned Kelly runs - it was always the plan to run in the Champion Hurdle, Istabraq or no Istabraq," said Williamson. "I was in Ireland last night and it was all systems go.

"I'm sure JP McManus would want Ned Kelly to run. He and John Magnier are very close friends, but the last thing JP would want is for Istabraq to run in - or even win - a Champion Hurdle diminished by the absence of Ned Kelly. That's the type of man he is."

Williamson is all but certain to partner Behrajan in tomorrow week's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"I rode him in the Irish Hennessy with a view to staying on him for the Festival," he said. "I'm due to have a sit on him at trainer Henry Daly's yard either tomorrow or Friday morning."

But, with only eight days to go until the £300,000 event, two of his key weighing-room colleagues have not yet made up their minds.

Mick Fitzgerald will decide within the next 48 hours whether to partner Bacchanal or Marlborough. Tony McCoy has set himself a similar timescale to split Shooting Light and Cyfor Malta.

Both Bacchanal and Marlborough "worked well" at trainer Nicky Henderson's Lambourn yard this morning.

The latter will have his final schooling session, over five fences, under Fitzgerald tomorrow.

Ruby Walsh would have been first choice if Fitzgerald plumps for Bacchanal, but he now appears committed to Commanche Court. His trainer-father, Ted Walsh, said the horse would "more than likely run, unless the ground is very soft".

But Williamson today dismissed the rumour completely, stressing that it "isn't John Magnier's or JP's style" to dodge competition.

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