Trabolgan rested for next term

Trabolgan’s connections have ruled the horse out for the rest of the season following the problems that surfaced after his brilliant victory in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

The decision was made to play safe and rest the seven-year-old, who carried top weight of 11st 12lb to victory in the big handicap chase at Newbury a month ago.

“Having spoken at length with Trabolgan’s owner Trevor Hemmings and the vets, we have decided to give the rest of this season a miss,” trainer Nicky Henderson said.

“It is precautionary more than anything and luckily he is a young horse with half his career still ahead of him.

“We re-scanned him and there is the most discreet evidence in one of his legs that there could be something amiss, so we decided not to take any chances.

“It is inconsequential at the moment but could lead to a more significant problem if we did not take the safer route and we are just looking forward to his return in the autumn.”

The first scan had found mild changes within the tendon fibre pattern on his near foreleg.

Although connections were forced to scrap plans to run Trabolgan in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day, they had still been hopeful of being able to get him back for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Trabolgan, winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at last season’s Festival, was 13-2 third favourite with the sponsors for the Gold Cup.