Sprinter Sacre (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Barry Geraghty believes Sprinter Sacre s main issue is with his wind after the former champion chaser was pulled up in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
The 2013 winner had shown plenty of promise on his long-awaited comeback at Ascot, but despite trainer Nicky Henderson and Geraghty believing he was in better shape heading to the Festival, he was pulled up before the last.
"I knew going down the back his wind wasn't quite right," the jockey told At The Races.
"I'd say wind is his big issue. He's in good health. I believe there was a trace of blood (after his scope) but it's not that significant. We'll just have to see what can be done.
"I knew coming down the hill I was in trouble. I would have pulled up before the second-last but I had horses on my outside that I would have interfered with.
"He wasn't in a distressed state, I was just being cautious but he had no more to give and wasn't going to impact on the places.
"Maybe there's hope, maybe there isn't, we'll just have to wait and see."
