THE williamhill.com Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27 is a possible starting point for Sprinter Sacre (above).
Nicky Henderson was forced to abandon plans to run the superstar in the Tingle Creek this afternoon due to the likely soft ground after he admitted such a test may come too soon in his rehabilitation.
It was in the corresponding Kempton race 12 months ago when the seemingly invincible chaser was pulled up with what was subsequently diagnosed to be a heart problem.
Having now recovered from that ailment, Henderson is striving to get him back to full fitness and a gallop with former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth yesterday will have helped with that. "He was really good this morning. He and Bobs Worth went a mile-and-a-half on the Faringdon Road," said Henderson. "I was delighted with both of them. I did it today because tomorrow is going to be a bit hectic and Nico (De Boinville, Sprinter Sacre's work rider) will be off racing. "The Desert Orchid Chase is a possibility, but there is no rush."