Andreas Wohler's talented bumper horse Estacas has been scrapped from going to the Cheltenham festival by the German handler after a disappointing effort at Lingfield on Sunday.
The five year old son of Galileo made his debut at Ascot in late October when putting up a superb performance to win late on, when all hope of winning looked lost coming round the bend.
Looking to strengthen his credentials in the betting for the Champion Bumper having been a 16/1 shot after his win at the Berkshire track, he went to Lingfield on Sunday.
However, with the tight track and problems in running, Estacas could only finish a well beaten third behind the taking winner Our Jester for Hughie Morrison.
Back-to-back wins! Our Jester and @tjobrien12 are not for catching as they take the opener at @LingfieldPark for @Hughiemorrison2! #WinterMillion pic.twitter.com/BFhiSybG4m
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 23, 2022
Off the back of this Wohler thought the performance was not good enough for a potential Cheltenham contender and has stated he will not head to Prestbury Park in March.
(Credit ATR) “It was too slow a race for him. When they started to sprint there as a bit of trouble, but he kept going at the end. Now we’ll leave him here in Germany to stay on the Flat,” said Wohler.
“He was bumped at the start. The pace was too slow. Had he got a better round he would have finished second maybe, but the winner is a good horse.
“We’re not going to run him in Cheltenham. That wasn’t good enough.”
