From the RP
NEPTUNE COLLONGES will be out of action for up to a year after suffering an injury in the Totesport Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
Neptune Collonges:
The Paul Nicholls-trained grey finished fourth behind Kauto Star last Friday but injured a tendon in the process.
Owner John Hales told BBC Radio Shropshire: "We believe it happened in the race, but it didn't show up until a few days after.
"It might have been the reason why he didn't perform at a normal level."
Neptune Collonges, a three-time Grade 1 winner, will now be assessed by vets - but is unlikely to be fit enough to line up in next year's Gold Cup.
"He now has to have his legs looked at by the vets and the appropriate treatment applied," added Hales.
"But it means he'll be off for 12 months, which means he'll miss the rest of next season as well.
"He would be a ten-year-old (in 2011) , which is not too bad, he'd probably have one last chance at (the Gold Cup)."
NEPTUNE COLLONGES will be out of action for up to a year after suffering an injury in the Totesport Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Paul Nicholls-trained grey finished fourth behind Kauto Star last Friday but injured a tendon in the process.
Owner John Hales told BBC Radio Shropshire: "We believe it happened in the race, but it didn't show up until a few days after.
"It might have been the reason why he didn't perform at a normal level."
Neptune Collonges, a three-time Grade 1 winner, will now be assessed by vets - but is unlikely to be fit enough to line up in next year's Gold Cup.
"He now has to have his legs looked at by the vets and the appropriate treatment applied," added Hales.
"But it means he'll be off for 12 months, which means he'll miss the rest of next season as well.
"He would be a ten-year-old (in 2011) , which is not too bad, he'd probably have one last chance at (the Gold Cup)."