Silverburn Team Wait On Weather

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls stresses no decision regarding Silverburn's Cheltenham Festival target will be made until the likely state of the going becomes clearer.

The six-year-old landed the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle back in January and Nicholls has tentatively earmarked him for a step up in trip in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle on Wednesday.

Plans could change, however, with the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle likely to come into play if further significant rain arrives at Cheltenham.

'The Ballymore Properties has always been my preferred option, but if there's more rain and it looks as if the meeting will open on heavy ground, he'll switch to the Supreme,' Nicholls explained.

'But if the ground dries out a bit, and the forecast I've seen today says it's going to do just that, we'll stick to our original plan ? to go for the longer race on Wednesday.'

Providing the ground is deemed suitable for Silverburn to tackle his preferred engagement on the Wednesday, Nicholls is likely to have a more even representation in the major novice hurdle events.

Explaining the situation, he told the Racing Post: 'Granit Jack goes for the opener on Tuesday, while Ornais will switch from Friday's Brit Insurance only if Silverburn goes in the Supreme.'

Silverburn is as short as 5-1 with Ladbrokes for the Ballymore Properties-sponsored race and trades as high as 14-1 with Stan James for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

(C) PA Sport