Time called on Salsify festival bid

Dual Cheltenham Foxhunter winner Salsify may run in a handicap chase once he returns from the injury that has ruled him out of his hat-trick bid at next month’s Festival.

Rodger Sweeney’s nine-year-old knocked a joint in a gallop last week and missed crucial pieces of work as a result.

Sweeney had clung on to the hope of Salsify still making the Festival, but his son and jockey, Colman, admitted time has now beaten them.