But Tim Jones, spokesman for owners Highclere Thoroughbreds, is full of hope that conditions will dry out in time to allow the colt a prep run for the big Cheltenham race - which is now less than five weeks away.

‘‘We are not complacent but we are not panicking,’’ he said. ‘‘He will run when God decides to end the rain.

‘‘When you have a horse literally jumping out of his skin and he can’t run because you are scuppered by the ground it is very frustrating.

‘‘But eventually it will come right and we will have a window of opportunity.

‘‘He will have lots of entries and he will go where the ground is suitable. Nicky has mentioned a race at Sandown next weekend and then there is the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton the week after.

‘‘We learnt from Architect two years ago that one run is enough. He made his hurdling debut in the Adonis and finished second to Snow Drop, then he finished fourth at Cheltenham, where he didn’t quite get up the hill.’’

Prizeman is 12-1 second favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, a race Henderson has won with First Bout, Alone Success and Katarino in the past.