Down Royal fixture postponed a week

Gerri Colombe was due to step into open company in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase on Saturday

NOT JUST YET: National Hunt fans will have to wait a week longer for the egearly-awaited seasonal reappearance of leading Gold Cup contender Gerri Colombe. Picture: Healy Racing 

Gerri Colombe will have to wait an extra week to start out on the Cheltenham Gold Cup trail after Down Royal's two-day meeting on Friday and Saturday was postponed by seven days to now take place on November 10 and November 11.

Gordon Elliott's talented stayer is the second-favourite for Gold Cup glory following a fine novice chase campaign last term and was due to step into open company in the feature Ladbrokes Champion Chase, where rivals could have included established stars Conflated, Envoi Allen, and Minella Indo.