Mitchell hopes for rain on parade (From Dorset Echo)

Mitchell hopes for rain on parade

8:30am Saturday 4th February 2012 in Local Sport By Ky Capel

WHILE many of us groan when the weather forecast signals rain, Nick Mitchell rubs his hands in delight.

The Piddletrenthide-based trainer has enjoyed a successful season to date, with four race wins thus far, and is confident of further joy should the wet weather prevail.

Speaking to Echosport, he said: “The season has been a bit stop-start and we’ve had a lot of youngsters who needed education and handicap marks, which we’ve pretty much done now.

“The weather has been a little bit difficult so far because a lot of the ground has been a bit dead and some of the horses need wetter ground.

“It’s been a tricky month or so but we are up on winners from this time last year and we’ve still got plenty to go, so I can’t grumble.”

And should his wish be granted, Mitchell is hopeful that Simply Ben could deliver at the Chelten-ham Festival in March.

The Grade One winning National Hunt trainer added: “We’ve got one for the precautionary handicap in the Albert Bartlett (Novices’ Hurdle).

“It’s Simply Ben and he has been progressing nicely. Every time he has raced he has come on leaps and bounds.

“You’ve got to be in it to win it but the ground will be key for him. To see him at his best it needs to be soft, so we will need some rain beforehand.”

Asked if there were any other charges to look out for in 2012, Mitchell replied: “Simply Ben is the main one but we’ve also got the likes of Betabob and Misstree Dancer.

“There is a good race in both of them but it depends on the conditions. When it gets a bit wetter they could run well.

“Also, Drybrook Bedouin has been out since winning at Exeter but he will go for the long distance handicaps at the end of the season.”