Salsify to bypass Cheltenham

Rodger Sweeney's dream of winning the St James' Place Foxhunter Chase for a third time with Salsify has been dashed as the 11-year-old is not qualified for this season's renewal.

Although technically there is still time for Salsify to put his name in the frame, Sweeney has decided not to rush the 2012 and 2013 hero.

The conditions of the race state a horse has to finish either first or second on two occasions in a hunter chase, or have won two open steeplechases at a point-to-point meeting in Britain or Ireland between October 1st 2013 and March 1st, 2016.

Off the track from December 2013 to last February, Sweeney tried to get Salisfy qualified by running twice this month.

However, he was only third at Leopardstown on his first start since being pulled up in the Foxhunter last March and although he bounced back to winning ways at in a hunter chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday, Sweeney is not keen to go to the well once more in a point-to-point this weekend, effectively ruling him out of the Festival.

"He's not qualified to go there. We are disappointed, but rules are rules and there's no way out," said the County Cork trainer.

"We'd have to run him next Saturday or Sunday and then nine days later he'd have to be loaded on the boat to England. It's just too near. I'd be an idiot if I got him beat and he'd have to win this weekend anyway.

"He was third at Leopardstown and if he'd been one spot closer he would have qualified for Cheltenham. We'd love to go back there and do it again.

"He's won the Foxhunters there twice and to win three times would be a dream come true.

"He's in good shape now and has come out of his last race well."

Having admitted defeat in the race to get Salisfy to his beloved Cheltenham, Sweeney could now take him to Aintree to run in the Crabbie's Fox Hunters Chase over the Grand National fences for the first time.

"We'll probably train him for Aintree now. He's qualified for there. He'll run first at Gowran on March 5th," he said.

"He's never been to Aintree. He's a very good jumper, but you never know if they will take to the place until you have a go.