RICHARDS PLANS RETURN TO ACTION Nicky Richards is hoping to have his first runners this weekend since the foot-and-mouth outbreak surrounded his Cumbrian base. The Greystoke trainer, whose last runner was Dancing Dill at Catterick on February 27th, has made entries for Haydock Park`s meeting on Saturday. But he admitted today that it has not been easy trying to prepare his horses in the county worst affected by the virus. He said: 'We are struggling a bit. We`ve been using the all-weather gallop. We`ve taken the same route every day. We haven`t been on the grass gallops at all. 'I haven`t had any runners since it started and my owners appreciate the situation. You have to respect the districts you are going to when you come from an area which is rife with the disease. 'We have some sheep on the land, they belong to a farmer up on the fells who has wintered them here. 'We are inside a three-kilometre zone where a cull is to take place. They are due to value the sheep today - there`s not a thing wrong with them - and then over the next day or so they will be taken away to be slaughtered so there`ll be nothing on the land. 'If they get away this week and I get the all-clear I hope to resume as soon as possible. I`ve put entries in for Saturday.'
