Trabolgan plans hinge on scan

Trabolgan faces a scan next week as he continues his recovery from a tendon problem.

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old suffered the season-ending injury after putting up an impressive performance to win last year’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup under top weight.

Trabolgan is already as low as 8-1 with Ladbrokes for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup but Michael Meagher, racing manager to owner Trevor Hemmings, has warned the horse will not be hurried.

He told the Racing Post: “Trabolgan’s near-fore tendon was fired and it didn’t heal quite as quickly as we would have hoped.

“The leg will be rescanned and we’ll take it from there. Mr Hemmings is anxious to give the horse all the time he requires.

“If that means missing the whole of this season it wouldn’t be the end of the world. He’s still a young horse and there would be plenty to look forward to.”