/ Editor / 22 February 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Newmill could switch to the Champion Hurdle rather than defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer John Murphy has stated that unsuitably testing ground at Prestbury Park "could see us change our mind", a scenario which seems a strong possibility in view of the Met Office predicting unsettled weather in the run up the Festival.

"We have left him in the Champion Hurdle to buy time and we'll see how things are nearer to the Festival," reported Murphy.

"We'll make a decision the week before and if the ground was heavy then I think we could change our minds and go for the Champion Hurdle," added the Irish trainer, who sent out Newmill to thrash Macs Joy by eight lengths in Grade 2 Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday.

Newmill is currently second favourite at 5.6 behind Well Chief (2.86) in the Champion Chase Betfair market, while his odds have crashed in from a high of 1000 to 65 for the Champion Hurdle.