Princeful return could be delayed

Princeful, winner of the Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle at the 1998 Cheltenham Festival, is set to have his return to action delayed, it emerged today.

The 11-year-old, now trained by Ron Hodges, is entered for the Weatherbys Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday but will not run unless it rains.

Princeful has not been seen in public since pulling up at the Punchestown Festival two years ago.

'He`s a soft ground horse so he won`t run unless we get some good or good to soft ground,' Hodges said. 'We were hoping the ground would change this week but it hasn`t.

'If the ground came good I`d run him but there would not have to be any jar. But Ascot on Saturday could be very firm in places.'

Hodges may now wait for the aththeraces Hurdle at Sandown on April 27th.

'There`s a race at Sandown for him at the end of the month,' the trainer went on. 'We shall enter him for that and if we don`t get the rain he won`t run and we shall leave him to the autumn.

'He`s working very well. We are really pleased with him and that is why we decided to go and give him another race.

'He`s had no mileage and I do still feel that there is a good race in him.'