Aintree not totally out of the question for Cyrname

PA Sport Reporters
March 2, 2021 5:15 pm

Nicholls still investigating root cause of breathing issue.

Paul Nicholls has not completely ruled out Cyrname running again this season, although he definitely will not line up at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old was an impressive winner of the Charlie Hall Chase over three miles at Wetherby in October, but has failed to sparkle in two subsequent runs, pulling up in both the King George at Christmas and last month’s Ascot Chase.

While Nicholls reports Cyrname to be in good health, the Ditcheat trainer is working to get to the bottom of a breathing issue that is afflicting his charge, with a second wind surgery on the horizon during his summer break.

Cyrname is still entered in the Ryanair Chase and WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he will not take up either engagement, with Aintree and Sandown the only options in Nicholls’ view at present.

He said: “Cyrname is absolutely fine, he’s come out of that race well. He’s just struggling with his breathing, we’re doing some investigations at the moment to determine what we can do in the future to get him back to his best next year.

“He’s absolutely A1 – he’s just got this breathing problem that we need to sort out.

“I haven’t ruled out (Aintree) totally – he definitely won’t be going to Cheltenham. The only options left are Aintree or possibly Sandown (for) the Oaksey Chase.

“My gut feeling tells me we’ll probably have to do some more surgery on him and we’ll probably do that in July and you’ll see him next in the Charlie Hall. Nothing is ruled in or out, it just depends.

“We’re doing an overground scope on him tomorrow (Wednesday), so we can investigate him and watch his breathing while he’s actually working and that will tell us an awful lot more about what we’re going to do.”