Sore shin hampers Fundementalist
Sunday, 2 January 2005Nigel Twiston-Davies has revealed a sore shin was to blame for Fundamentalist's poor display of jumping at Cheltenham on Saturday.
The highly-rated seven-year-old put in a number of uncharacteristic errors at his fences in the Unicoin Homes Dipper Novices' Chase, eventually blundering and unseating Carl Llewellyn at the 10th obstacle.
Twiston-Davies had been at a loss to explain his performance and had hinted at getting the horse back out on the track quickly, but now that this news has come to light, he will spend a week in the swimming pool first.
"He is a bit lame and he has got a sore shin, which is the reason that he did not jump very well," said the handler.
After the race, Fundamentalist's odds were lengthened for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, the race that looks his most likely Festival target next March.
Filed by James McMahon
