Strong Flow ruled out by injury

Paul Nicholls' Strong Flow is set to miss the rest of the season after picking up an injury when winning at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.

The exciting prospect survived two blunders to lift the Network Design Feltham Novices’ Chase by eight lengths from Ballycassidy.

But it later emerged that Strong Flow, who had won the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on his previous start, had cracked a bone in his knee on his near-fore leg.

“Somewhere or other in the Kempton race he sustained the injury,” Nicholls told the Racing Post.

“He appeared sound afterwards but as he cooled down back in the racecourse stables he became lame on his near-fore leg.

“We had him X-rayed and it showed the worst in that he had cracked a bone in his knee.

“He’s been strapped up and sent back to the yard and will now have a lengthy spell in his box to give him time for the injury to heal.”

The Ditcheat trainer did not think the injury was career threatening and was hopeful that Strong Flow would be back next season.

Strong Flow had been a 5-2 chance with William Hill for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.