Ground The Key To George's Wetherby Bid

Jimmy Moffatt has warned Chief Dan George will not run in the John Smith's Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday unless it rains.

The Cartmel trainer would like to take the wraps off his stable star in the Grade Two event but the ground needs to ease at the West Yorkshire track.

'The horse is all set but we would like a drop of rain. As it stands, if it remains good to firm, he'd be doubtful.' said Moffatt.

'We'd love to run him. The horse is right and well. He wants to race and if he misses Wetherby he'll go for the Long Distance Hurdle down at Newbury (on December 1).'

The seven-year-old won five of his seven races after joining Moffatt last season, culminating in a four-length win in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdle over three miles at Aintree in April.

He is as big as 25-1 in places for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Moffatt added: 'He had a fantastic summer up at his owner's (Maurice Chapman) place.

'I'm very pleased with him. He's a big strong horse and he's raring to go, but we'll keep the covers on if it doesn't rain.

'I think it would be a mistake to run him on ground that is a bit quick for him. I've got one star and I'm going to look after him.

'I hope that he does himself justice this year because he's got one or two doubters.

'We'll be looking to one or two nice prizes over hurdles. I think he's well capable of it.

'The Wetherby race has been his target since the day he left the field. He is fit and ready and if we get rain he will run.'

? PA Sport