Quito's Gold Cup challenge uncertain

Colm Murphy faces a race against time to get Quito De La Roque ready for Cheltenham after the Grade 1 winner scoped badly last week.

With the Festival just a month away, the eight-year-old is being treated for the problem that forced him to miss today's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

Until he recovers, plans for the JNwine.com Champion Chase winner remain up in the air.

"He's on a course of antibiotics, so hopefully we'll have him back soon," said the County Wexford trainer.

"I don't know about Cheltenham. It's too early to say."

Quito De La Roque holds an entry in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup for which he is a 25/1 chance.

Meanwhile, Murphy reports his stable stalwart Big Zeb to be on course for a fourth crack at the Queen Mother Champion Chase which he won two years ago.

"He's great. I'm very happy with him so it's all systems go for Cheltenham for him," the trainer added.

Big Zeb was runner-up in last week's Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown behind Sizing Europe, who beat him in the Champion Chase last March.