Air Force One: was as short as 12-1 for Newbury's Hennessy Gold Cup

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

Injured Air Force One ruled out of Hennessy

AIR FORCE ONE, who was as short as 12-1 for Saturday week's Hennessy Gold Cup, has picked up an injury and will miss the Newbury feature.

Charlie Mann told racingpost.com on Monday: "Air Force One has a problem in the hind area and he will spend three weeks recuperating at the Inglesham equine centre near Lechlade, where he will make use of the equine pool and water treadmill."

Air Force One, a 12-1 shot for the Hennessy with Stan James but 16-1 with the majority of other leading bookmakers, was runner-up to Madison Du Berlais in last season's Hennessy.

He reappeared in the King George at Kempton, but injured his back there and lost his form for the remainder of the season.

Mann added: "Air Force One will be fit when he returns from Inglesham and the plan is to have a spring campaign, geared towards the Punchestown Festival where he won a grade one chase two seasons ago."