Somersby to run in Queen Mother

Somersby will definitely run in the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase next Wednesday, rather than the Ryanair Chase a day later.

Henrietta Knight's seven-year-old will take his chance over two miles at the Cheltenham Festival as his owner, Camilla Rodford, is to under chemotherapy on the day of the Ryanair.

Knight told The Guardian: "The fact is that Mrs Radford is ill at the moment and is having chemotherapy on Thursday next week, so he will run on Wednesday so that she can come and see him.

"He goes to the race on Wednesday whatever the weather, whether it is raining or snowing or whatever it is. It may not be perfect, but it's not influenced by anything other than family misfortunes.

"I had thought that the treatment could be changed if necessary but it has to be booked two or three weeks ahead in London. It's all done very scientifically and it can't be changed.

"If they water the course and then it rains on top, that would certainly suit him as he likes the ground soft."