No quick return for Finian's

Colin Tizzard has put a line through Finian's Oscar's run at Sandown but ruled out a quick reappearance at Cheltenham this weekend.

The Grade One-winning novice hurdler had won his first two over fences without much fuss, but dropped to two miles for the Henry VIII Novices' Chase, he was never in real contention.

After an early mistake he was always being chased along by Robbie Power before finishing last of three finishers.

"We don't really know why he didn't lie up last week. Was it all pace? I don't know. We will put a line through it and you can see he wasn't quite himself," said Tizzard.

"He doesn't appear that way at home. We will wait three weeks and find a race for him, then start again.

"We might do that and go for the Dipper (Cheltenham, New Year's Day), but at this moment I wouldn't think we would go to Kempton (Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day) - things change, but we are not going to run him this weekend, anyway."

One who could be in action over Christmas in the Kauto Star race is Elegant Escape, already a Grade Two winner.

"There is a very good chance he will go to Kempton on Boxing Day. He is a lovely horse and he did it well at Newbury," said Tizzard.

"He has progressed. I am sure there are some good novice chasers out there and he has got to climb the ladder, but he is going the right way."

Impressive novice hurdler Slate House is due to run at Ascot on Friday week after winning both his starts to date.

"He will go to Ascot (Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle). That is his race. He has been fine and has just been in general training. He is a lovely horse," said Tizzard.

"We could have gone anywhere with him, but this is what we thought we would do. He will be tested next time, but he has not really been tested yet. You can guarantee at Ascot he will be.

"If the ground gets heavy that will be a factor. Presentings haven't handled deep ground as well as good, so that is a factor. If we get beat we know where we are.

"We have done two ordinary novices, now we have got to have a go at a better one."