Howard Johnson's hopes held at Bay

Fitness race: Tidal Bay's preparations for the Cheltenham Festival have been hit by the weather

13 April 2012

With a dry week forecast, trainer Howard Johnson fears Cheltenham will turn on the taps which would hinder Tidal Bay's chances of beating hot favourite Big Buck's in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Johnson, who won the race three times with Inglis Drever, has been hit hard by the weather this winter and, as a result, has warned punters his team of horses for the Festival may not be as fit as he would like.

Johnson said: "I wouldn't think Tidal Bay could beat Big Buck's. If I was going there with Inglis Drever I'd be confident.

"But to be fair, he loves Cheltenham. He's only been beaten there once [in five visits] and the time he was beaten - in the Ryanair Chase last year - he shouldn't have been."

Tidal Bay, who was an impressive winner of the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, beating Time For Rupert by five lengths, is a 7-1 chance for the Grade 1 race at the Festival on 18 March.

Johnson added: "As long as it stays dry and they don't get the watering can out, he'd have half a chance.

"But I do worry they will water, which would be unfair. They should let nature take its course. This has been the worst winter for us in 30 years and while a lot of my horses look healthy, they are out of sync.

"We haven't been able to work them as we'd really want to."

Meanwhile, trainer Alan King has confirmed that Mille Chief, who was favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, will miss the valuable novices' race through injury.

Whiteoak, winner of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at the Festival in 2008 and third favourite for the race on 16 March, has been retired after a minor injury.

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Howard Johnson's hopes held at Bay

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