Marlborough on the mend

Top chaser Marlborough is making rapid progress after undergoing surgery last week and may be set to make his return to racing action sooner than had been expected.

The Nicky Henderson-trained nine-year-old had been on target to make his seasonal debut in last Saturday`s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup until he was found to be suffering from a trapped epiglottis.

And Henderson had described the chances of his charge being fit enough for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton, his intended mid-season target, as 'pretty unlikely'.

Marlborough underwent routine surgery for the problem last Tuesday.

But Barry Simpson, racing manager to the gelding`s owner, Sir Robert Ogden, today revealed that Marlborough was well on the way back to full health.

'Marlborough has made a very, very good recovery,' Simpson said.

'He had the operation last Tuesday and the vets are delighted with his progress.

'Normally there is a lot of swelling afterwards and it is some time before the horse is ready to do anything but he seems very well.'

Running plans over the Christmas period will become clearer for the Ogden-owned horses after this weekend.

Fadalko is set to run in the Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Chase with Irish jockey Ruby Walsh going over for the ride while Nicholls` stable jockey Timmy Murphy will partner See More Business in the Tote John Hughes Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow.

Fadalko, See More Business and Marlborough all hold entries in the King George, for which Ad Hoc is another possible contender.