Jack ruled out with wind problem

Crack Away Jack is to have a wind operation after a poor performance on his second comeback run at Kempton on Friday.

The seven-year-old, winner of the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2008, is unlikely to run again this season after he was pulled up when well behind Punchestowns.

Trainer Emma Lavelle has scratched her charge from his two engagements at Cheltenham, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase.

He only returned to action at Ascot last month when unplaced behind Master Minded after being sidelined with a tendon injury since he finished fourth to Petit Robin in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December 2009.

"He's going to have a wind operation so that will be him finished for the season," said Lavelle.

"He's just not getting enough air in and I think you just can't run if that's the case, so he's going to go and have that done.

"He jumped great at Kempton but when he stopped there was obviously something big wrong. There was no blood or mucus on the scope and it just appears he's not getting enough air in.

"He's having a wind operation hence there is no point leaving him in at Cheltenham and we'll start next season with an fresh sheet. I imagine he'll be staying over fences, especially off his rating."

Court In Motion will bid to follow his stablemate Highland Valley's example by winning his prep race for Cheltenham when he lines-up at Haydock on Saturday.

Highland Valley booked his place at next month's Festival with a battling victory over Araldur over two miles and three furlongs at Exeter on Sunday.

Court In Motion heads for Merseyside this weekend where he will run over three miles in either the totescoop6 Hurdle, formerly known as the Rendlesham, or the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

Both Emma Lavelle-trained novice hurdlers hold entries at Cheltenham in the Neptune Investment Management over two miles, five furlongs and the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdles.

"Highland Valley was good yesterday. He's a horse that wants further running against a horse (Araldur) that was rated 150 over two miles over fences and they pulled nicely clear, so it was a good performance," she said.

"I think he's still on course for going to Cheltenham. I'm not sure which novice he will run him in. We'll wait and see.

"He's in the two-mile-five and three-miler. We'll look at it the same as with Court In Motion. Both want with cut in the ground.

"All being well, Court In Motion will head to Haydock on Saturday. He's in very good order and I'm really looking forward to running him.

"We've put him in both the Rendlesham and the novice. We'll have a look at both and then make a decision as to which one we will run him in."

Court In Motion has won two of his three starts over hurdles this season and was second to Backspin in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury on his other outing.