Bobs Worth: will miss Argento following unsatisfactory tracheal wash
PICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)Bobs Worth ruled out of Argento by Henderson
SATURDAY'S Argento Chase at Cheltenham was dealt a double blow on Thursday as favourite Bobs Worth was ruled out the race, while Tidal Bay is a major doubt for Paul Nicholls.
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Bobs Worth, also the ante-post favourite for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, is now set to head directly to the Festival without a prep run.
Trainer Nicky Henderson said: "Bobs Worth will miss Saturday's race because figures from his tracheal wash weren't as they should be before a race. He's not sick or anything like that, but I just wouldn't want to run on that figure.
"It's a shame because everyone was looking forward to the race and Cheltenham are putting in a terrific effort to get the meeting on. However, we'll have a good team going there."
Henderson added: "I'm sure that Bobs Worth will be fine in a few days and what has happened will definitely not affect his chance in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. That will be his next race, and not having a run beforehand is not a concern, after all he won the Hennessy first time out this season."
Bobs Worth was odds-on at 4-5 for the Argento, and the complexion of the race could change further, as Tidal Bay, second favourite at 3-1, is "odds-against" running according to trainer Paul Nicholls.
Nicholls, writing in his column on Betfair, said: "Tidal Bay should be considered doubtful for Saturday's Argento Chase. After working this [Thursday] morning, he came back slightly lame.
"Myself and Clifford [Baker] have looked him over and the problem is hard to diagnose. It could be either an infection brewing in his off hind foot, and or he has pulled a small muscle, but we don't know at the moment.
"We will obviously monitor him in the next 24 hours, and then make a decision on his participation in the morning. It isn't a serious problem - and he may well yet run on Saturday - but I thought it was best to keep everyone informed.
"At this stage, though, I think it is odds-against him running at Cheltenham at the weekend."
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