Pillar Next For Abbey Grey Abbey could bring the curtain down on his illustrious career at Cheltenham at the end of next month. The bold-jumping grey has won six of his 10 starts since joining Howard Johnson´s County Durham yard for the 2003-2004 campaign, including the Scottish Grand National, Charlie Hall Chase, Pillar Property Chase and the Betfair Bowl. However, the 11-year-old has failed to show his customary sparkle in two runs this season and has been pulled up on each occasion, most recently at Wetherby on St Stephen's Day. 'I´ve decided to keep him ticking over until the end of January,' Johnson said. 'If he has one more run and doesn´t run well he´s definitely retired. 'He´ll be entered for the Pillar and if he goes there and doesn´t run well he´ll definitely be retired.'? PA Sport
