Newmill set for Fairyhouse if weather permits

News round-up:Sunday's Fairyhouse feature already has the prospect of a clash between star names such as Nickname and Kicking King but the former champion chaser Newmill could also be thrown into the mix - if the track passes an 8am inspection this morning.

The chances of the meeting going ahead were described as only "50-50" yesterday as between 10 to 12mms of overnight rain is expected to fall on ground that is already heavy.

Already the decision has been taken to move the scheduled hurdle races to the inside track and the Fairyhouse manager, Caroline Grey admitted: "It's pretty grim here at the moment and I would say it's only 50-50 about going ahead. You would have to be more hopeful than confident."

That won't ease the worries that Newmill's trainer John Murphy is enduring as he tries to secure vital match practice for the 2006 Queen Mother winner in the Grade Two Normans Grove Chase ahead of a return to Cheltenham in March.

Murphy is keen to race at least twice before another tilt at the two-mile crown at Cheltenham in which Newmill finished fourth to Voy Por Ustedes last year. However, the prevailing ground conditions are providing the west Cork-based trainer with more than a few headaches.

"This is the difficulty with a horse that hates heavy ground," he said yesterday. "On balance I think he will probably run if he can on Sunday because I need to get a run into him. But I won't finally decide until declaration time."

Murphy added: "Ideally I would like to get two runs into him before Cheltenham. But if I miss Sunday and wait for the Tied Cottage at Punchestown, where he got lost in the fog last year, what happens if the conditions are atrocious there too? The other race I'm looking at is the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran which he won last year."

Robbie Power was due to walk the Fairyhouse course yesterday to see conditions for himself as the Grand National winning jockey prepares for a third ride back on Newmill this season.

Power was injured before Newmill's greatest moment at Cheltenham nearly two years ago and had to watch as Andrew McNamara stepped into the hot seat. However, with McNamara now retained by the Edward O'Grady yard, Power has ridden Newmill in both his starts over hurdles this term.

Ironically there was more positive news from Cork ahead of their Sunday meeting despite the track having been under water last week.

The course manager, Michael O'Neill, reported: "We will have to limit numbers racing but I would be 90 to 95 per cent confident we will be okay. The worry is that we are forecast to get 20mms of rain on Friday night and while I think it could take that, what happens if we get more? We will keep a close eye on it but I would be fairly positive."

Weather conditions are also making plans uncertain for Mansony who has a Normans Grove entry on Sunday but is primarily being aimed at tomorrow's Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot which is also under threat from waterlogging. Mansony is one of seven declarations for the Victor Chandler and is rated a 7 to 2 second favourite with the sponsors behind the odds on Twist Magic. Arthur Moore, however, still has the Normans Grove option open to him, if the weather intervenes.

"It's a tricky one," admitted Moore who didn't rule out a re-route to Fairyhouse if a British raid is denied him.

Kicking King's trainer Tom Taaffe has the option of running the 2005 Gold Cup winner in tomorrow's Listed hurdle at Naas should Fairyhouse not get the go ahead.

Cashmans bet on Normans Grove Chase: 1-3 Nickname, 9-2 Kicking King, 6 Newmill, 14 Blueberry Boy, 25 Old Flame.