Paul Nicholls is hoping for good ground for his ‘lively’ Champion Hurdle outsider Old Guard.
The five-year-old finished ninth in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, but started this season with a hat-trick of wins at Cheltenham.
He opened up by winning off mark of 137 in October, then took the Greatwood Hurdle off 145 before stepping up to Grade 2 company to win the International Hurdle in December, beating fellow Champion Hurdle contenders Sempre Medici, Hargam and Peace And Co.
Old Guard was then fourth behind last season’s Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen, who misses out this year due to injury, in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Nicholls feels Old Guard has been refreshed by a break since his last run and is happy with the horse in the lead-up to the Cheltenham Festival.
“He’s won three good races,” Nicholls told Racing UK. “It was basically a Champion Hurdle trial in December in the International Hurdle.
“I probably shouldn’t have run him at Christmas, I wish I hadn’t now, but it wouldn’t have done him any harm, and he’s had a nice break since then.
“He’s going to go into the race fresh and well, and we’re very happy with him. He likes Cheltenham and I’d just love to see some better ground.
“He’s entitled to be there and he’s what I call a lively outsider.”
