Finian's may not defend Champion Chase

Nicky Henderson has warned that Finian's Rainbow is far from certain to run in the sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Last year's winner was expected to face stablemate and red-hot favourite Sprinter Sacre in the Grade One feature but the easing of the ground at Prestbury Park to soft on Friday may leda to a rethink.

Speaking at Sandown Henderson told Racing UK: "AP (McCoy) sat on Finian's this morning, as he would ride him if he ran in the Champion.

"The ground that we had at home was beautiful and he jumped like a bird but he does want that ground and if it wasn't like that I'd have to say he's unlikely to run next week. You have Aintree, Punchestown and all sorts after Cheltenham.

"I spoke to [the horse's owner] Michael Buckley this morning and nobody wants to watch a past champion being dethroned in humiliating circumstances.

"I had to get that race into him at Ascot the other day to get him to Cheltenham but on that ground as Barry said 'It's not him, he can't act in it'. AP had a lovely time on him this morning but that was good ground."