Injury hits Brook campaign
Ashley Brook could head to the Cheltenham Festival without the benefit of a prep-run after Kevin Bishop’s stable star suffered a knee injury.
A problem was discovered with the gelding’s off-fore knee after his second to Kauto Star in the William Hill Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown Park earlier this month.
“He kept flexing his knee so we had X-rays done and the vet gave him the all-clear,” Bishop told the Racing Post.
“However, we then had him nerve-blocked, which involves injecting various parts of his leg with local anaesthetic to see how he reacts and he was markedly more sound when his knee was injected.
“There is no swelling and no heat in the knee and he walks out 100 per cent but he’ll rest now and then we’ll start him off swimming again.”
The Bridgwater-based trainer remains “confident” Ashley Brook will make it to Cheltenham in March for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, for which he is a general 7-1 shot.
