CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls has cancelled his Cheltenham Festival media day on Wednesday and reported several horses in his yard to have coughed.
Nicholls, whose 16 runners on Saturday were all beaten, tweeted on Moneday morning: "Unfortunately we've had to cancel the Chelt media day on Wed. After a moderate weekend some horses have a cough. 1st priority now is to the horses and their owners."
Expanding in his Betfair blog, Nicholls added: "It is fairly obvious that we had a moderate weekend with only one winner from 31 [Zarkandar at Newbury on Friday]. We have several horses coughing and not running to their form.
"In these circumstances we do not feel it is appropriate to invite the media on Wednesday. I'm sure everyone agrees my horses and owners must come first at this stage."
My Note to all --Nicholls said: "Like lot of other stables, we've had the odd one coughing on and off since Christmas. Last week there were a couple morethan usual who were affected. My suspicion is that they have picked it up on the course and brought it back to the yard.
"On Saturday morning Zarkandar had a runny nose and was coughing like mad, so he must be some horse to have won like he did at Newbury the day before."
Paul Nicholls: pushed out for title
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos) Bobs Note to All ---Horses with horse flu can run a fever, have a dry, hacking cough, have a runny nose, and become depressed and reluctant to eat or drink for several days, but they usually recover in two to three weeks.This leaves very little time for a horse to be redied for a champion meeting that takes place in just 4 weeks - beware of thinking his yard will be ready for optimum fitness -- and if he has picked the virus up from the track - Nichols will not be the only yard affected
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