Chris far from certain to run at Cheltenham

Last year's Arkle winner Captain Chris is still not a definite runner at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding has had an interrupted campaign, unseating Richard Johnson at the last in the Haldon Gold Cup, finishing third after a setback in the King George and then pulling up at Cheltenham in the Argento Chase after jumping alarmingly to his right.

Hobbs concedes his charge has always had a tendency to go to his right but if he does go to Cheltenham it will be for the Gold Cup.

"I certainly hope we haven't seen the best of him this season and at this stage it's not definite that he'll definitely go to Cheltenham," Hobbs told At The Races.

"I just want to be happy, but things are going the right way. Ever since his very first hurdle race he has always gone right, this is nothing new.

"He's had lots of physio from various people and at home he's the same as he always has been.

"If we are very happy with him he'll run at Cheltenham and I suppose the Gold Cup is more likely than the Ryanair as they'll go a bit slower over a longer trip, but we need to be very happy with him before he runs."