Trouble-free following comeback win

Looks Like Trouble has come out of his comeback victory at Wincanton in tip-top condition following 14 months out with a tendon injury, trainer Noel Chance has revealed.

'His legs are good, exactly the same as they were yesterday morning,' said Chance today.

And the Upper Lambourn trainer confirmed that there was no change to plans for the 10-year-old, whose main objective is to retain the Tote Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

'The plan is at was - the Aon at Newbury or the Irish Hennessy. Obviously the Aon is plan A. If for some reason that race did not happen we would go to Ireland. The timing is perfect,' said Chance.

The Aon Chase is run at Newbury in three weeks` time on February 9 with the Irish race at Leopardstown a day later.

That gives Chance just under five weeks to get Looks Like Trouble in prime condition for the Gold Cup which he won two years ago. Last season`s Festival was lost because of the foot and mouth epidemic.

'For the next week, he`ll go on the water treadmill and after that he will resume full training again next Saturday,'said Chance.

But the trainer has ruled out further schooling over fences. 'Certainly not. I don`t think he needs it,' he added.

And no-one would disagree following Looks Like Trouble`s exuberant round of jumping which saw him lift Saturdays`s Highclere Group Of Companies John Bull Chase by a distance from Celibate.

Immediately after that win, Looks Like Trouble was quoted a best-priced 7-1 with the Tote while the remainder of the major bookmakers made him 6-1 favourite to capture chasing`s blue riband prize for a second time.