'There are lots of horses who want top-of-the-ground, why should they never get their ground?'

Jack Channon backed Charlie Johnston's attack on the "annoyance" of courses watering, even though he was among many trainers to pull a horse out due to quick conditions at Chester on Friday.

His Certain Lad was among three withdrawals from the Huxley Stakes on account of the ground, which was changed officially to good to firm, good in places early on Friday morning and was the reason given for eight of the nine non-runners declared by 10am.

The track was watered in the build-up to the meeting, causing Johnston to rail against tracks that "interfere more than they need to."

And Channon said on Friday: "I think he is absolutely spot on. I've got a horse who needs cut in the ground but there isn't any so I don't run.

"There are lots of horses who want top-of-the-ground, why should they never get their ground?

"Watering has its place if it's high summer and we haven't had rain for weeks, then they have to water just to make it safe. But the ground today at Chester will be beautiful for horses who like quick ground."

Jack Channon: backed Charlie Johnston's views on the topic of courses wateringCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Royal Rhyme and Sunchart have also been taken out of the Huxley, a Group 2 contest that is now left with just six runners.

"It just so happens that my horse doesn't like it so I'm not going to run him," Channon said.

"I've got to wait my turn now. We've had soft ground all spring and a lot of my soft-ground horses have been winning and they're going to have to wait for the ground to come right for them – it's my job to maintain them and keep them in the same form."

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