Mille Chief's participation at Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle is in doubt after he was withdrawn from the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.
Mille Chief's participation at Cheltenham's Triumph Hurdle is in doubt after he was withdrawn from the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.
Alan King's juvenile has had an interrupted season but it had been hoped he would run at Kempton, having missed a recent engagement at Huntingdon.
However, the French import was found to be lame on Friday morning and, although connections hoped it would clear up before the Adonis, the problem seems to be worse than first feared.
Iain Turner, racing manager to owner Max McNeil said: "He's still lame this morning after he was found to be lame yesterday.
"We will get a full diagnoses in the next couple of days but at this stage he could be a doubt for the Triumph.
"He was declared in case whatever it was cleared up but it did not improve overnight.
"At this stage we would advise everyone to hold their bets for the Triumph."