No Arkle For Nickname

Nickname will sidestep Tuesday's Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham due to the ground.

Martin Brassil's seven-year-old had been a 20-1 shot with Coral for the two-mile race after being narrowly beaten by Sir Oj last time.

However, connections have decided the likely good going will not suit Nickname, who put up his best performance to date when winning a Leopardstown Grade Two on heavy ground in January.

'He's come on for that run with the Arkle at Cheltenham in mind but the ground hasn't changed sufficiently to send him over there,' Brassil told At the Races.

'He's definitely not going as he wants ground on the heavy side of soft rather than the yielding side of it.'

? PA Sport