Injured Trabolgan out of King George

TRAINER Nicky Henderson hopes Trabolgan can return to the track in time for next year’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup - despite his star being ruled out of the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on St Stephen's Day.

The Hennessy Gold Cup hero was found to have suffered “mild changes” within the tendon-fibre pattern to his near fore following a scan at 4pm yesterday afternoon.

Henderson was deflated by the news, but has not given up on the seven-year-old making a comeback in the Cheltenham feature on March 17.