Nicholls: 'I've no idea why it was a walkover - Lorcan said the ground was safe'

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls was left bemused after the spate of withdrawals due to the ground at Ascot resulted in his charge Milan Bridge taking the prize for the 3m novice handicap chase in a walkover.

Four of the five intended runners in the second contest of Ascot's seven-race card were pulled out – including Quel Destin, also trained by Nicholls – leaving Milan Bridge as the only one left.

One For You, Enemenemynemo and Arizona Cardinal were the other absentees due to the drying ground, which was officially described as good, good to soft in places but resulted in the fixture being decimated by non-runners.

Curiously, the last walkover at Ascot was exactly 39 years ago when Rosa Ruler walked over for the Snow Hill Handicap Hurdle on November 19, 1983.

Nicholls said: "All along I'd been planning to run Quel Destin. Good to soft or soft would have been perfect. When it dried up I was scared a bit but I declared the other one [Milan Bridge] just in case it dried up.

Milan Bridge: was awarded Ascot's second race in a walkoverCredit: Mark Cranham

"I could see it was going to be a small field but why it was a walkover I have no idea. Lorcan Williams rode in the first and said: 'I don't know what they're on about, the ground is safe.' Harry [Cobden] thought the same yesterday."

He added when speaking to ITV: "People can make their own minds up whether they run or not and some people don't like running.

"I get it [the frustrations] 100 per cent. It frustrates me just watching the declarations and entries with so few runners. Sometimes you have to take the wrap off these horses otherwise they'll end up in stables and you don't win races in the stables.

"Everyone is different and everyone is entitled to their own opinions."

Only 30 runners across Ascot's seven-race card ended up competing from 45 declarations, with the withdrawal of L'Homme Presse, Do Your Job and Hitman leaving just two runners in the Grade 2 1965 Chase, which was won by Coole Cody.

Brilliant Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Constitution Hill was the most high profile of the absentees after Nicky Henderson decided against running in the Coral Hurdle, saying: "What they call it [the ground] and what I'm prepared to run my horses on are two different things."

Alan King: most of my runners have come back from Ascot this season with a problem

Alan King withdrew Edwardstone from his intended reappearance for the second weekend in a row on Saturday, citing problems that many of his runners have suffered after running at Ascot this season.

The trainer pulled his Arkle winner out of the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last Sunday as the ground was too quick.

Having re-routed the eight-year-old to the Jim Barry Wines Hurst Park Handicap Chase at Ascot six days later, he took the horse out on the morning of the race.

Clerk of the course Chris Stickels described the ground as good to soft, good in places, after selective watering following racing there on Friday, before updating the description to good, good to soft in places before midday.

King said: "I didn't like the ground yesterday [Friday]. Betterforeveryone, the horse I ran in the last race there, was jarred up this morning and seeing how sore he was made my decision quite easy.

"I know Chris has put a bit of water on but I couldn't run Edwardstone. We've only had a handful of runners at Ascot this season and most of them have come back with a problem."

Read more:

'It's disappointing for everyone' - ground concerns rule out Constitution Hill

Ascot clerk: 'I have known it dry up like this in November – it's unique'

'Should we even carry on?' - racegoers' day spoilt by walkover and withdrawals

'I feel sorry for the punters' - on-course bookies react to depleted Ascot card (£)

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