Slow pace blamed for Menorah defeat

Menorah is still on course for the Cheltenham Festival despite suffering a shock defeat at Ascot on Saturday.

Trainer Philip Hobbs felt the Lomax "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle was not run to suit the 1-2 shot, who is going to take on hot-pot Dunguib in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle on March 16.

"He's perfectly OK. It was disappointing, rather the same happened when he got beat at Doncaster," said Hobbs.

"There was no pace, he got left in front and that probably doesn't suit him."

Hobbs reported Planet Of Sound virtually none the worse for his crashing fall in the Betfair Ascot Chase.

"He's fine except for a slight bruise on his left eye. That's all he's got," the Minehead handler added.

"That's fortunate and he'll end up going straight to the Ryanair."