Nicholls Rules Out Azertyuiop

Azertyuiop will almost certainly miss the whole of the jumping season after the injury he sustained at Sandown last month has proved to be worse than first thought.

It originally appeared that Paul Nicholls´s star two-miler had been struck into during his four-length defeat to Well Chief, receiving only a cut on the leg.

However, the eight-year-old has been found to have suffered an overreach and he is now set for a lengthy period on the sidelines.

'Due to the injury sustained at Sandown when suffering a very nasty overreach, he is unlikely to race this season,' Nicholls told the Racing Post.

'He has been at the vets ever since Sandown and we picked him up today and took him to his owner John Hales´s home, where he will continue to be treated before being taken out for a summer at grass.

'Understandably this is a huge disappointment for John, myself and all the staff at our yard, who are working so hard for another successful season.

'The injury is not that serious though and I´m hopeful he will be back in action next season.'

Azertyuiop is Britain´s highest-rated chaser and finished in the top three in all of his six runs last term, although he could not add to his 2004 Queen Mother Champion Chase victory when only third behind Moscow Flyer and Well Chief.

? PA Sport