Karanja to be saved for next season
Trainer Victor Dartnall has decided not to look for another bumper opportunity at either Aintree or Punchestown, instead opting to prepare the six-year-old for a jumping campaign next season.
"He's being schooled and will then be put away for the autumn," Dartnall confirmed today.
Karanja arrived at Cheltenham unbeaten in three starts, including a Grade Two event at Newbury, but he seemed to collide with another horse at the start unshipping Carberry in the process.
Dartnall is now keen to give the horse a decent summer break before sending him over hurdles.
"He's been on the go since early October and it seems it was not our day at Cheltenham and you've just got to accept that," added Dartnall.
"He will be schooled and then we will come back for some novice hurdles in October, after all he was bought for jumping not to race on the Flat."
Meanwhile, the remarkable Venn Ottery could only finish fourth in the Abberley Hall Old Boys Association Hunters' Chase at Ludlow yesterday just six days after running in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and eight days after a run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Almost a fence behind at one stage, Venn Ottery stayed on through the field but could only finish fourth behind Cobreces, who has been in the care of Lucia Borradaile since May after having winning form for Paul Nicholls.
