NEWS: RATHGAR BEAU, winner of the 2005 Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival, has been retired by trainer Dusty Sheehy after the recurrence of a tendon problem.
The 12-year-old missed all of last year with the injury, which has returned following the veteran's latest run when he was pulled up on a trip across the Irish Sea to Huntingdon.
Rathgar Beau won nine of his 40 starts, and enjoyed his finest hour when denying the great Moscow Flyer by an agonisingly close short head three years ago.
"His old leg injury has resurfaced so we have decided to call time and retire him," Sheehy said. "He has been a super horse and a dream to train. He was a great flagbearer for the yard and helped to get new owners in.
"Horses like Rathgar Beau are what it is all about, and our best day with him was when he beat Moscow Flyer at the Punchestown Festival."
Madison Du Berlais could step up in class following his victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday. The seven-year-old sprang a 25 to 1 surprise to give trainer David Pipe his first victory in the prestigious chase.
"We've got no plans at present," Pipe said. "Obviously he's going to go up (in the handicap) for that, and he may have to try and step up again and maybe go for a conditions race, but we'll sit down and chat about it with the owners.
Charlie Mann hopes to find the most "winnable" race between the Stan James King George VI Chase and the Lexus Chase for Air Force One following his fine second.
The trainer is eyeing Kempton on St Stephen's Day or Leopardstown on December 28th.
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