Chief team monitoring progress
Owner David Johnson has not completely ruled out the possibility of top two-miler Well Chief running this season.
Trainer Martin Pipe announced last month the six-year-old had heat in a foreleg and would be given a long rest, meaning he would be doubtful to run at all this campaign.
“It was a minor setback, it wasn’t major and minor, by definition, is small,” Johnson told At The Races.
“He had a bit of heat in his leg. The scan didn’t show too much up and if he was another horse we would probably have kicked on with him and seen how we got on.
“We took the vet’s advice, he’s having treatment and I suppose it’s pretty unlikely he will run this season but it’s not without possibility.
“It was a very minor injury and we are keeping a watchful eye on him at present.
“I was at Martin’s last week and the horse looked very well to the average person like me. You would hardly know there is anything wrong with him as he’s never been lame.
“While doubtful, I wouldn’t totally dismiss him but I wouldn’t recommend anyone to back or lay him. It’s an outside possibility, but remote at that.”
