The fallout from Moscow Flyer's lack-lustre weekend work out won't go away and the double champion chaser continues to be a significant drifter in the ante-post market for Cheltenham. Brian O'Connor Racing Correspondent, reports.

The Jessica Harrington-trained star has slid out to as far as 4 to 1 with one firm in the Queen Mother Champion Chase markets and bookmakers are forecasting he could be an even more dramatic slider next week on the day of the big race itself.

Moscow Flyer was not overly impressive when working after racing at Leopardstown last Sunday when jumping four fences and working over a mile and a half.

"Maybe the clock has clicked too far. You just don't know," Harrington said afterwards before confirming that the 12-year-old will still run in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase for the fourth time in his sparkling career.

However, the chances of him adding to those dramatic victories in 2003 and last year seem to be slipping if the indications from bookmakers are to be believed.

The Cork firm Cashmans have now pushed Moscow Flyer out to 4 to 1 and report no business even at that price. The horse had been a general 5 to 2 chance before the weekend.

"Nobody wants to know about him and I think he will be a big drifter on the day," their spokesman Joseph Burke said yesterday. "Personally I would love to see him win but I don't see it happening now."

Other firms report "absolutely no interest" in the horse who has won three times at the festival in all and has become a modern icon in Irish National Hunt racing.

The Irish Grand National winning trainer Martin Brassil hasn't ruled out sending his star novice Nickname to next week's festival but the horse who is as low as 16 to 1 with some firms for the Arkle Trophy will need the ground to be at least soft.

"It has to be soft. Good to soft wouldn't do. But they are getting some rain over there alright and if that continued through the weekend we would consider leaving him in and taking his chance," Brassil said yesterday.

Nickname returned to something like his best form when runner-up to the experienced Sir Oj at Naas a fortnight ago and had earlier impressed in two wide-margin victories at Leopardstown.

"He has been in good form since and it looks like the race might have brought him on a bit," Brassil added. "If he can't go to Cheltenham there is a Grade Two at Navan on the 26th instead over two and a half miles. That might be a better option than the Power Gold Cup because the ground might be gone by the third week of April. With a horse like this you take what you get when the ground is right."

The Curragh trainer also reported Numbersixvalverde will race over hurdles at Naas on Sunday in what will be his final start before tackling the Aintree Grand National next month.

Willie Mullins said yesterday that a final decision on whether the current Aintree National title holder Hedgehunter will take his chance in next week's Gold Cup won't be taken until just before Cheltenham starts.

However, he did concede there is a "good possibility" the horse will take part in chasing's blue riband on St Patrick's Day. Mullins expects to saddle 12 horses at the festival and reported "no setbacks" with just days to go.

Champion trainer Noel Meade has revealed he believes Harbour Pilot in the Foxhunters Chase could be his best chance from a large team next week.

"He has not done his last piece of work yet but I think he is probably my best chance of the week," He said. "I wasn't too disappointed with his last start as he hadn't worked well beforehand and he had a bit of a cold. But he had to run to get qualified. If he is back to his old form he would have a great chance."

Meade also reported that Sir Oj is now likely to run in the Ryanair Chase on the Thursday. The Racing Post Plate, formerly the Mildmay, had been his original first option but the horse has been raised 16lb in England on the back of beating Nickname last time out.

Horse Racing Ireland have scheduled a replacement fixture at Fairyhouse on April 19th for the meeting abandoned at the track last Saturday due to snow and frost.

There will be an inspection at Navan today to see if the chase track will be raceable at Saturday's meeting.