Trainer Ben Pauling has been left frustrated again with his stable star Willoughby Court after he has endured another setback that will see him miss this Friday's scheduled return to racing at Newbury in the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase.
The 2017 Neptune Novice Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival suffered a horrible injury which saw poison in his foot and ruled him out for the rest of the season.
This season he was set to return in the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle but another problem saw this plan scuppered and more updates were to come as to when he would be back.
At the start of the season he was the market leader for the JLT Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and this weekend could have seen him return to the top of the betting but unfortunately that plan has also been delayed as Pauling suggested he wasn't quite right again.
The seven year old was declared a non runner for the race on Friday morning and again the racing world is left bemused as to when we will see the chaser this season , if we do at all.
(Credit At The Races) Ben Pauling said:“He isn’t 100 per cent this morning, which means he won’t run at Newbury today.
“It’s incredibly frustrating for all the team and in particular Paul and Clare Rooney (owners), who have been incredibly patient and supportive.
“I was very excited to get him back out on the track, but that’s racing! It’s a long season, and we hope to have him out again soon.”
(Credit Virgin Media One)