Master Minded is facing a long wait

Now, Clive Smith, the man who owns the two Paul Nicholls-trained superstars, has revealed that a decision on the latter’s racing future is unlikely to be taken for another year.

The dual Champion Chase winner severed a tendon when stepping up to three miles for the first time at Kempton on Boxing Day, jockey Daryl Jacob dismounting from the well-beaten horse before the final fence.

Master Minded has undergone successful surgery and remains in Newmarket convalescing, but Smith warns the chance of infection is the main danger.

“I was down at the yard on Monday and Dan Skelton gave me a good summary of the injury in detail, to which Paul Nicholls added some points,” explained Smith.

“Basically, he has had his open tendon sewn back together. It was not ruptured, just severely damaged.

“The big problem with injuries like this is if they get any muck in them but Master Minded’s is clean at the moment.

“He remains in Newmarket and as much as possible is being done for him. He’s in plaster and I think he will be for about a month.

“He will obviously have a very long rest but, hopefully, he will be walking on the roads by the end of the year with a possible return to training about 12 months away.

“The main thing is infection, although there is no sign of that at present. A similar case I remember is Azertyuiop, whom Paul trained. He came back in to full training but couldn’t stand it after a year off.

“The answer is we just don’t know if he will race again at this stage. But if he doesn’t he’s been a wonderful horse – if it wasn’t for Kauto Star he would have been the horse of a lifetime.”

In a stellar career, Master Minded, nine, won 16 of his 28 starts – the French import’s finest hour coming in 2008 when he won his first Champion Chase by an outstanding 19 lengths over Sir Robert Ogden’s classy Voy Por Ustedes.

His last victory came in November’s Amlin Chase when powering to victory at Ascot over Henrietta Knight’s well-regarded Somersby.

Long Run is likely to be without earplugs when he defends his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in March.

Trainer Nicky Henderson revealed his team have worked hard getting the top steeplechaser to relax but that they may have overdone it after the horse’s defeat to Kauto Star in both the Betfair Chase and the aforementioned King George VI Chase.

“We will be changing a few things but I don’t think we will be taking Kauto Star on up front,” said Henderson.

“We are hoping that the extra distance at Cheltenham and the hill are what are going to save us.”

The trainer confirmed that Long Run could have a prep run for Cheltenham in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury next month.

Philip Fenton will “let the dust settle” before making any plans for Last Instalment, Ireland’s likely rival to David Pipe’s imperious top-class novice chaser Grands Crus, who won Kempton’s Feltham Novices Chase on King George day.

The seven-year-old has made a tremendous start to his career over fences, winning each of his three starts this season, culminating in the Grade One Fort Leney Novice Chase at Leopardstown last week.

Last Instalment is around an 8-1 chance for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham – Grands Crus is a hot favourite – and prep race options include the Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase and the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.

“He came out of Leopardstown really well. He’s as bright as a button,” said County Tipperary-based Fenton.

“I don’t think we’ll be in any huge hurry to run him back that quick. He’s going to have an easy couple of weeks, doing very little, before we set off and do another canter with him.”

High winds forced Ayr to abandon yestyerday’s meeting mid-morning after gales meant many horses could not reach the Scottish venue.

The public address system at the course was also not working and there were concerns for the safety of the crowd, even though the track passed an initial 7.30am check.

Several jockeys from Yorkshire had travelled to the track before officials accepted the inevitable.

There was even greater damage at Epsom racecourse, home of the Derby, which had to be evacuated after part of the grandstand roof blew off in high winds.

There were no injuries sustained in the incident, affecting the Duchess Stand, and a full investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, Friday’s meeting at Chepstow is under threat after two inches of rain fell within 24 hours.

With the course waterlogged, an inspection will take place at 8.30am tomorrow.