Cheltenham Now for Monet's

The prospect of very testing conditions led Nicky Richards not to declare Monet's Garden for Saturday's Betfair Ascot Chase, a race he won in 2007 and was second in 12 months ago.

The 11-year-old could now go straight to Cheltenham for the Ryanair ase.

"It's not going to be very pleasant ground at all and it would be far from ideal for the old lad," said the Greystoke trainer.

"If we had run him it might have just finished the season for him. It's a great shame as this race was always the plan for the old horse.

"The greatest thing about this old horse is that he's got a very understanding owner (David Wesley Ytes). The horse has always come first.

"He's appreciates what he's got and what the old horse has done for him and we won't try to abuse the situation.

"Hopefully, we might go for the Ryanair with him now and then on to Aintree to finish the year off for him."