Azertyuiop comeback delayed
The eight-year-old has been off the track since suffering an overreach injury when finishing runner-up to Well Chief in the Betfred Celebration Chase at Sandown in April.
There had been an outside chance that trainer Paul Nicholls could have the John Hales-owned gelding back on the track in the spring.
However, Nicholls told At The Races: “I was speaking with Mr Hales this morning and he told me that he’s OK.
“He just needs a bit more box rest but he will be back next season.
“There was a chance we could have raced him again in the spring but it was felt the right thing was to leave him all year and then come in next July with a full campaign next year.”
Azertyuiop has won 11 of his 22 starts over obstacles, including the 2004 Queen Mother Champion and the Arkle Challenge Trophy the previous year.
