Paul Nicholls had inquired as to whether the entries for the postponed James Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday week could be re-opened so that he could run See More Business, it emerged today.
The Ulster course`s two-day meeting, which was due to start tomorrow, was put back until next weekend due to flooding at the three-mile start.
Nicholls approached the course`s chairman James Nicholson to re-open the #110,000 contest which is expected to feature a clash between Looks Like Trouble and Florida Pearl, first and second respectively in this year`s Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
However, the request was declined.
Nicholls explained: 'I spoke to the course and to the Irish Turf Club about the possibility of the race being opened, but they said it could not, for legal reasons, as it was an early-closing race - there was no way they could do it.
'We did not put him in initially because it was a bit close to his run at Wetherby, but with another week in between it would have been another matter.
'When I saw that they were going to put it on next week I just thought we would find out if we could enter, it is a very big prize, it is soft ground over there and that would have suited him - those sort of #100,000 races don`t come along every day.'
Down Royal manager Mike Todd said: 'Florida Pearl`s trainer Willie Mullins and Noel Chance, who trains Looks Like Trouble, put their horses in at the entry stage, left them in and they had always named the race as the objective for both horses.
'So I think it would not have been fair to them if the race had been re-opened, and I am happy enough that we have got the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and runner-up in the race anyway.
'I have a lot of respect for Paul and you have to admire him for looking into the possibility of there being an opportunity to put See More Business in.'
Conditions have improved at the course and Todd added: 'I have walked the track this morning and thewater level has dropped well down. There is only a bit of water left now.
'It would not have been right for the weekend because there would have been a false patch of ground where the water had been, but by Sunday or Monday we will be on course again, it was just the water level and not the amount of rain which caused the problem.
'There is a bit of rain forecast next week but nothing that will cause any major problems.'
See More Business, winner of the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup, made a successful return to action at Wetherby at the end of last month and is due to bid for his third Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Nicholls added: 'I have not discussed it with his owners, but he is fit and well for the King George and it is likely he will go straight there.'
