JLT favourite Master Dino out for the year after sustaining leg fracture

Master Dino will miss the Cheltenham Festival after sustaining a hairline leg fracture during his impressive British debut at Plumpton on Sunday, a performance that catapulted him to the head of the betting for the JLT Novices' Chase.

A prolific and high-class performer in his native France for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Master Dino was set to mark a return to the biggest stages in Britain for trainer Guillaume Macaire, who had been seeking to exploit his horse's novice status over fences.

Racing manager Anthony Bromley said on Tuesday: "Master Dino has been operated on for a hairline fracture of a hind leg and has had three screws inserted today. He will definitely miss Cheltenham."

Short-lived celebration: Daryl Jacob, Guillaume Macaire and Anthony Bromley (second fron the right) pose with Master Dino at Plumpton on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Master Dino was twice a Grade 1 winner over hurdles at Auteuil and had impressed on his chasing debut on the track in November, before Macaire and the owners decided to concentrate on aiming him at Cheltenham this spring.

Although the injury means the five-year-old son of Doctor Dino will be out for the rest of this year, connections are hopeful he will be fit to return to action in the spring of 2020.

Bromley added: "He's come out of the surgery fine. He won’t be racing in 2019 but hopefully, with proper recovery, he could be racing in 2020. As of this week he has only just turned five and hopefully we’ll see him back as a six-year-old in France."