Dundee bypasses Clonmel Options are open for Nick Dundee after the chaser was taken out of an intended engagement at the weekend.Trainer Edward O`Grady had earmarked the Grade Two Morris Oil Chase at Clonmel on Sunday for the nine-year-old`s reappearance.Regular pilot Norman Williamson partners Smarty the same day for Mark Pitman at Aintree but his absence is not the reason for Nick Dundee missing the race.'The horse is perfect, it has nothing to do with Norman,' said O`Grady today. 'There are a couple of options for him but it will be December before he runs.'Nick Dundee showed immense promise as a young chaser and went off a short-priced favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in 1999.He was cruising under Williamson when he came to grief three from home leaving subsequent Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble to take the spoils.A serious injury suffered during that fall meant his racing career was in the balance but he made an emotional winning return at Navan the following December.O`Grady`s gelding followed that with a fine third behind Rince Ri in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown but came to grief on his next two starts, the last of which was at Gowran Park in February.Any hopes of a tilt at the Tote Gold Cup were then scrapped.But Cheltenham and chasing`s blue riband could still be on the agenda, although O`Grady is reluctant to look too far ahead.'That would be a lovely plan,' he said. 'We`d be thrilled if it were to happen but we`ll take it a day at a time.'
