Nycteos return: Cheltenham gamble out for prep run

Pleasing preparation: Detroit City
14 April 2012

Nycteos, heavily backed for the Racing Post Plate last week (12s from 33s), will have a prep run in Friday's DavidParry- Racing.com handicap hurdle at Newbury.

The six-year-old, who joined Paul Nicholls from Georgina Brown last season, sprained his near hind hock in the Topham Trophy at Aintree last April.

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Following an operation in which he had a bone chip removed, the tall gelding came back into training only on December 1. But he could be owner Andy Stewart's best chance of a Cheltenham Festival success this year.

Nicholls said: "He'll win a nice handicap chase whether at Cheltenham or later on. He fell at Becher's in the Topham when going really well.

"We want to give him a run this week as he will need it. But I've been itching to get him going as I think he's a very nice chaser. Touch wood all the Cheltenham runners are in good shape."

Philip Hobbs, whose string was under a cloud with 30 per cent of them coughing last week, was much happier after working some of his Festival horses at Exeter yesterday.

Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City worked particularly well, leading Arkle favourite Fair Along at a brisk gallop. Hobbs said: "It was very good. Detroit City worked in front with Fair Along and the pair of them went equally well really. I was very pleased indeed.

"The Champion Hurdle is only two weeks away so we will put the finishing touches to his preparation at home. I wouldn't have thought there'd be any need to take him away again. The same goes for Fair Along."

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