NO SOFT OPTION FOR NOELIE Soft ground has forced Henrietta Knight to cancel Lord Noelie`s intended return to action at Cheltenham tomorrow. The seven-year-old was set to run in the #40,000 Chubb Chase at Prestbury Park having missed the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury because of unsuitable going. But now the Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner will wait until the wet weather abates before seeing the racecourse again. Knight explained today: 'It`s too soft, we`ll just have to accept the fact and forget about running him at all at the moment. 'We`ll wait until the weather changes and we won`t even try to enter him anywhere else. 'The horse is ready to run but at least we`re getting him fit for all the time. 'It`s frustrating for the owners.' The Chubb Chase has attracted 12 runners headed by the Nicky Henderson-trained Marlborough. The eight-year-old will be returning to the scene of his most important triumph in the William Hill National Hunt Chase at the Festival in March. His opponents include the Mary Reveley-trained Brother Of Iris and Supreme Charm, winner of the Sporting Index Chase here for Kim Bailey last time. On the same card the Ian Williams` Owners Novices` Chase will see the Henry Daly-trained Behrajan attempt to maintain his unbeaten record over fences.
