Setback Delays Etoile Comeback

Paul Nolan has ruled exciting second-season chaser Accordion Etoile out until next year after the Grade One winner met with a setback in training.

The seven-year-old burst onto the novice chasing scene when landing a Grade Two event at Cheltenham's November meeting in 2006.

However, he failed to follow up that victory and tasted defeat on his following three starts before coming of age in the Swordlestown Cup at the Punchestown Festival.

That meeting, along with the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March ? for which he is a best-priced 20-1 chance with totesport and Stan James - feature among Accordion Etoile's targets once he has made a full recovery.

'You probably won't seem him out until the new year as he had a minor setback and we are giving him a proper break,' said Nolan.

'He is still on the go and is ticking over but he is a spring horse, and came good in the spring last year, so we will keep him for Cheltenham and Punchestown.

'I would prefer to keep him to two miles but it all depends on how things pan out.

'His main aim would be the Queen Mother but he is going to have to improve to beat the likes of Newmill, Kauto Star and Voy Por Ustedes.'

(C) PA Sport