Vanquished Ptit Zig on track for JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham

Ptit Zig remains on course for the JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham despite sustaining a minor injury in a spill at Ascot last Saturday.

The talented six-year-old suffered a first defeat in five chase starts when falling at the ninth fence in the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase, won by Balder Succes.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding will now be prepared for the JLT Novices’ Chase, for which he is 7-2 second favourite behind the 5-2 market leader, Vautour.

“He had a small haematoma underneath but he’s fine and he’ll be back in work,” said co-owner Barry Fulton.

Meanwhile Little King Robin is on a course of antibiotics after scoping dirty following her defeat at Punchestown on Wednesday.

Colin Bowe’s stable star had been placed in the Morgiana and Hatton’s Grace Hurdle earlier in the season and was making her return after a break.

She could, however, only finish fifth to Rock On The Moor in a mares’ hurdle over two and a half miles.

The race was intended as a prep run for the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but plans are now up in the air.

“She scoped very dirty and had an inflamed throat,” said Bowe.

“It puts a dampener on the whole thing as we went for a prep run. She’s on antibiotics now so it will be harder to prepare her. We’ll just see what happens.

“Cheltenham depends on whether she has just come down with something or whether she is through the worst of it.

“We’ll know a lot more in five to six days.”