Cheltenham still on Cloone River’s agenda

CLOONE RIVER could still make the field for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham after a scan showed his back injury is not as serious as first feared.

The 10-year-old had been well fancied for the Victor Chandler Chase later this month but trainer Paul Nolan has ruled him out of that race after he aggravated an old problem.

However, the gelding underwent a scan on Tuesday afternoon and Nolan is now far more upbeat about his charge still competing at a Festival event in the spring, either at Cheltenham or Punchestown.