Simply Ned heading for Champion Chase after missing Leopardstown

Simply Ned looks set for a third crack at the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, despite the minor setback that forced him out of Saturday's Dublin Chase.

The high-class two-miler is a best-priced 33-1 for the Cheltenham championship event and trainer Nicky Richards said on Sunday: "We'll make sure he's right before we make any plans but there's not much about for him apart from the Champion Chase.

"He's 12 and is not going to have many more chances, being realistic, so we'll think seriously about it. The place money is fantastic and there isn't a two-mile race at Aintree. I suppose the only other race would be back in Ireland at Punchestown in April."

The dual Grade 1 winner, who has finished no closer than fifth in two previous runs in the Champion Chase, was denied the chance to improve on last year's second to Min in the inaugural Dublin Chase when he was withdrawn on the morning of the race.

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase card and betting

"He must have given his knee a bang in the stable," Richards said. "The side of it filled up with a little bit of bruising. There was no way we could run him.

"But I'd hope he'll be right by the end of the week, I hope it's not a big issue."

Knocknanuss remains on course for the Racing Post Arkle Chase despite his second-fence fall in Saturday's Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase won by Le Richebourg.

"He's fine," reported trainer Gary Moore. "He wouldn't have another run before Cheltenham, he doesn't need to. I'd like to think he'd have a decent chance, on the whole he's generally a good jumper - he was foot-perfect round Plumpton the previous time."

Racing Post Arkle Chase card and betting

There are no immediate plans for Lord Napier, who won the Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Sandown on the back of "the best piece of work I've ever seen a horse do", in the words of trainer Peter Bowen.

His son, jockey Sean, said on Sunday: "We thought going into it he had a great chance. They do a two-mile piece of work, my dad times them all and he was the quickest who's ever done that piece of work. The quickest previously was Al Co before he won the Scottish National, so it worked out well before and he was quite confident!"

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