Dato Star out for the rest of season

CHAMPION Hurdle hope Dato Star was ruled out for the rest of the season yesterday following a veterinary scan. The gelding, winner of the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham in 1995, is unlikely to run again until the middle of next term.

"He was scanned this morning and he has got a slight suspensory strain," explained trainer Malcolm Jefferson. "He'll be out for the rest of the season and we won't hurry him back. Time is the greatest healer and if they come back too soon it can cause problems. He will probably be back around Christmas time.

"We haven't decided yet but he'll probably stick to hurdling rather than go chasing. It's a bitter blow when any horse is injured but with one this good it is even bigger. He has had no luck since he won at Cheltenham as he has never had his ground. It's very disappointing for the yard, for the lads and for the owner.

Dato Star was quoted as short as 12 to 1 for Cheltenham by Coral, having finished second to Mistinguett in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock last month on his most recent appearance.

Jefferson is still hoping to improve his fine Festival record next month with recent Sandown Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle winner Tullymurry Toff. "He is fine and he will go straight to Cheltenham for the Coral Cup," Jefferson said. He won well at Sandown and we hope he will go well."

The Malton handler has done well with a handful of Festival runners in his training career, winning with Dato Star and Tindari and seeing Go Informal finish second in the Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle last year.

Martell Grand National favourite Coome Hill will warm up for the Gold Cup in next Thursday's Jim Ford Chase at Wincanton, it was announced yesterday.

Permit trainer Walter Dennis said: "Hopefully they've had the rain we've had at Wincanton and that's where we're aiming for next week."

Dennis had been puzzling over alternative targets for his Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner, including the Racing Post Chase at Kempton and Greenalls Grand National Trial at Haydock. But the prospect of suitably soft going has tipped the scales in favour of Wincanton.

Coome Hill, who fell at the second fence on his most recent appearance at Sandown this month, is 14 to 1 co favourite for the Grand National with Ladbrokes who also offer him at 8 to 1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

. Collier Bay's Champion Hurdle chances were given a boost yesterday by Jamie Osborne the jockey who will partner his big race rival Large, Action at Cheltenham. Comparing both horses, he said that Collier Bay deserves to win at Cheltenham on what he has achieved, but that neither Large Action nor Tote Gold Trophy hero Make A Stand should be. discounted.