Horse Racing: Henderson pleased with Tiutchev progress

Nicky Henderson has good news of top chaser Tiutchev, who had to miss Saturday’s feature Ritz Club Chase at Ascot after suffering a bout of colic.

His gelding was taken to the Royal Veterinary College with what Henderson described as a slightly different problem to the one that hit him last year.

Tiutchev had been set to try and repeat last year’s victory, his sole triumph of 2001, in the Grade One event and had appeared back to his very best following an impressive success at Sandown earlier this month.

‘‘He’s doing well and they’re pleased,’’ Henderson said. ‘‘They are just doing a few more tests on hearts and stomachs and things.

‘‘They want to get him drinking a little bit more but when he’s done that and they’ve finished their tests, which will be tomorrow, he may well come home Wednesday or Thursday.

‘‘They are very pleased and have done a great job. The good thing is they knew him as well from the last time and it’s always easier with a patient you know. He’s in good hands and is perky and bright in himself.

‘‘He’s back eating again, not what I would want him to be eating but you have to get him back onto his diet and various things, and we’ll just have to see how we go. Unfortunately the timing of it is rotten.’’

Thoughts of Cheltenham and the Queen Mother Champion Chase are understandably not paramount in Henderson’s thinking at the moment.

He said: ‘‘I haven’t even discussed Cheltenham with them. With the timing I would think it’s extremely unlikely, but you never know.’’