Emma Lavelle's chasing stable star De Rasher Counter has been ruled out of the season with a tendon injury meaning the gelding will not be heading to Newbury this month to defend his Ladbrokes Trophy title.
The eight year old, last term really made a name for himself when landing the Newbury feature, but after that was outclassed in better events and his trainer was hoping that he could bounce back to form in the race this term.
However, it will no be a spell off the track for the son of Yeats as the handler and connections to the horse decided to draw stumps for the whole campaign and get him back and ready to go for next term.
(Credit ATR) “He just had a bit of heat in his near-fore (leg) this morning,” said Lavelle.
What a season young Ben Jones is having...
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) December 1, 2019
He rode his biggest winner today as DE RASHER COUNTER held on to win the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury 🐎
A real star of the future is the young Welshman 👏🏼
🎬 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/dW7C6Nr3a7
“He is 100 per cent sound, but I just wasn’t happy with it. Our vet came in and scanned it and there’s a mark on the tendon, so that’s the end of our defence – for this year anyway.
“It’s not the end of the world, these things happen, but it’s a kick in the teeth.
“He’ll miss the whole season because if we try to bring him back earlier and it doesn’t work, then we’ll miss longer, so if we bite the bullet and take the sensible route, it’s the best thing.
“He’s only eight, he’s a lovely horse, so it makes sense to give him time and bring him back when there’s a bit more normality in the world.”