Mick Winters faces an anxious three months to discover if Rebel Fitz will be able to race again after he underwent surgery on a leg injury.
The operation was a success but it is '50-50' whether he will be able continue his racing career.
"He's had his operation and it's 50-50 whether he comes right or not to run again," Winters told At The Races.
"They said it was just like a piston. When he was galloping there was some friction and it was eroding a bit.
"If he's not going to be 100 per cent there's no point fooling ourselves.
"The surgeon said he was happy after the operation and I asked him what his gut feeling was after the operation and he said it was good. That means a lot. It will be three months."
Rebel Fitz has been a tremendous servant to the County Cork trainer, winning 18 races, including the 2012 Galway Hurdle and 2014 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, and amassing more than £400,000 in prize money.
However, the 10-year-old finished out of the first two for almost two and a half years when only sixth as he tried to claim the Listowel Races Supporters Club Slan Abhaile (Q.R.) Race for a second successive year in September.
