Nicky Henderson aiming stars at Newbury - even if meeting is rescheduled

Nicky Henderson hopes to "stick to the plan" with stable stars Altior and Champ after their crucial Cheltenham Festival prep races were given a lifeline with a contingency plan confirmed to restage Newbury's Saturday card next Sunday, if Friday's course inspection fails.

An inspection for Saturday's meeting is scheduled at 8.30am on Friday and if it fails, the full seven-race fixture – which features the £125,000 Betfair Hurdle – will be moved to February 21 and shown on ITV4, the BHA announced on Thursday.

That terrestrial broadcast will also be boosted by the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle – a race won last year by Shishkin – being rescheduled for Market Rasen. The contest was saved after Huntingdon's Thursday fixture was cancelled earlier this week.

Newbury Saturday card

The BHA also confirmed a back-up plan for Warwick if the track fails its own 8.30am inspection, with the seven-race fixture featuring the Grade 2 Agetur UK Kingmaker Novices' Chase moving to Monday.

Newbury's alternative date is a huge boost for champion trainer Henderson, with two of his leading Cheltenham Festival hopes looking likely to have prep runs next week.

Altior is seeking a fourth consecutive success in the Game Spirit before a possible clash with Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion Chase, while Gold Cup contender Champ is set to make a first appearance since his dramatic victory at last year's festival in the Denman Chase.

Champ: is four from four at NewburyCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Regarding their participation should the meeting be put back eight days, Henderson said: "I'll need to have a discussion with the owners, but I would imagine we'll be sticking to our plan.

"The two in the Betfair Hurdle [Buzz and Mister Coffey] will run too, as that's what they've been aiming for. With Altior and Champ, they're preparing for something else so it's important to get them in.

"It's a great effort from Newbury, the sponsors Betfair, the BHA and ITV. These things are important and appreciated."

On Wednesday, assistant trainer Joe Tizzard confirmed Lostintranslation would be an intended runner at Newbury next week, with the Denman Chase the target, while the Ascot Chase on Saturday week is also under consideration. Clan Des Obeaux is also likely to run at Newbury.

However, Betfair Hurdle favourite Metier is less certain to take part next week. A discussion will take place between trainer Harry Fry and owner Gary Stevens on whether to run.

Fry said: "We'll have a chat over the weekend once we know the final outcome – which unfortunately looks unlikely.

Metier: could go straight to the Supreme and miss the Betfair HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We'll see whether our focus would then possibly switch to Cheltenham and the Supreme, but we agreed to see how things pan out before making a final decision. It's up for discussion."

All races on Sunday would be reopened for entries apart from the Betfair Hurdle, which would revert to the previous cut-off point when the weights were revealed in January.

An inspection will be held at Newbury on Friday at 8.30am, but the chances of the meeting surviving look unlikely.

Clerk of the course Keith Ottesen said on Thursday: "Our inspection is still planned for 8.30am tomorrow, but we'll need a marked positive rise in temperature to give us any confidence.

"I'm pleased everything has aligned to help with the contingency plans for Betfair Super Saturday to be restaged next Sunday, now there are strong indications that the fixture could be lost due to frozen ground.

"It's such a prestigious meeting for Newbury and racing as a whole, so this is a really positive outcome."

ITV's Saturday schedule is likely to feature races from Lingfield and Chelmsford should Newbury be rescheduled. Elsewhere, Lingfield will change its cancelled fixture on Monday to a jumpers' bumper all-weather card.

Read more:

Matthew Smith hoping freshness can be the key to Ronald Pump in Stayers' Hurdle

Nicholls confident Clan Des Obeaux can build on King George display at Newbury

'He was good but he was quirky' – popular Yorkhill retired after eventful career

Watch live races through the Racing Post website. Log in to your bookmaker account via the bookmaker button at the top of the page and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here