Rock sustained 'small' spinal issue at Naas Kitten Rock was found to be suffering from a minor spinal injury following his disappointing run at Naas on Sunday. The JP McManus-owned six-year-old made a smart start to his career over fences at Navan in November, but finished a disappointing and well-beaten third behind Shaneshill in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase. Trainer Edward O'Grady said: "He was lame post-race and has been diagnosed as having a small problem with his spine. He has had a procedure to hopefully rectify the issue and it will keep him out of action for three weeks." O'Grady continued: "While it was a disappointing run, it was nice to find a reason for it and hopefully we have put it right now. "It's too difficult to say at this stage when he'll be back on the racecourse. "We hope to start back (work) with him after three weeks, and that's the only time-frame I have at the moment." Kitten Rock won six times from nine starts over hurdles and rounded off last season by finishing a creditable sixth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
