Master Dino Ruled Out Of Cheltenham

Master Dino has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a hairline leg fracture in his win at Plumpton on Sunday.

Trained by Guillaume Macaire, the five-year-old was quickly installed antepost favourite for this year’s JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March when winning well at Plumpton on his British debut over the weekend.

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However, racing manager Anthony Bromley has confirmed his injury setback and the disappointing news he is out of the Festival while he will also miss the remainder of the season.

He said: “Master Dino has been operated for a hairline fracture of a hind leg and has had screws inserted today. He will definitely miss Cheltenham.”

The French-bred horse will now be given time to recover and, while Bromley says the surgery went well, he will not reappear until spring 2020.

Bromley added: “He’s had surgery with three screws inserted into his hind leg this morning and he’s come out of it fine. He won’t be racing in 2019 but hopefully, with proper recovery, he could be racing in 2020.

“He was sore and then they took him to the vets’ clinic and this morning we gave permission for the operation and importantly he has come out of it.

He will not be entered at Cheltenham. As of this week he has only just turned five and hopefully we’ll see him back as a six-year-old in France.”