Nicholls changes Cyrname plan as Covid complications rule out Down Royal trip

Wetherby is set to welcome the highest rated chaser in Britain next Saturday after pandemic restrictions forced Paul Nicholls into a change of plan.

Cyrname, who topped the Anglo-Irish jump classification jointly with dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, had been due to reappear in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal next weekend.

But his trainer has now re-routed him to the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, a race he has won three times.

Paul Nicholls: 'It was getting very difficult to get him to Down Royal and get staff there with him because of Covid'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"It was getting very difficult to get him to Down Royal and get staff there with him because of Covid," Nicholls said. "It just wasn't worth taking chances with him.

"I'd had in the back of my mind it might start to get difficult and the Charlie Hall is the obvious race to run him in. We want to try him over three miles and we'll get an idea by going there. He's got to start somewhere and we want to see if he gets the trip before he goes on to a King George, it's the obvious place to go.

"It's a flattish track that will suit him well. It's a Grade 2 but he only gets a 6lb penalty."

Nicholls has won the Charlie Hall with Silviniaco Conti and See More Business (twice), both of whom also won the King George.

Cyrname, who ended Altior's long unbeaten run at Ascot last autumn, finished a remote second to stablemate Clan Des Obeaux on his first crack at the Kempton Boxing Day feature.

Watch Cyrname get the better of Altior at Ascot

He was beaten when falling at the last fence on his return to Ascot in February and has not run since, but Nicholls said on Saturday: "He's in very good form, he worked nicely this morning and he's well on schedule."

Cyrname is a best-priced 16-1 for the King George with Sky Bet and Betfred, with Clan Des Obeaux the general 7-2 favourite.

More to read:

Al Boum Photo and Cyrname share Anglo-Irish classification top honours

'Stiff and tired' Cyrname to be given plenty of time after Ascot Chase spill

'When he got up it was brilliant' - Nicholls moved by crowd reaction to Cyrname

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