Marlborough's participation in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup was thrown into doubt yesterday with the news that his intended jockey Mick Fitzgerald has lost his battle to be fit for Saturday's big race at Newbury.
Fitzgerald cracked a bone in a shoulder in a fall from Chalkie Run at the Berkshire track two weeks ago.
When asked if Marlborough was on course for the Hennessy, trainer Nicky Henderson said yesterday: "I don't know. All I can tell you at the moment is that Mick Fitzgerald will not be riding this weekend."
And Fitzgerald's agent Dave Roberts confirmed: "He's going to leave it one more week."
Connections were desperately hoping Fitzgerald would return in time with Barry Simpson, owner Robert Ogden's racing manager, having reported: "Marlborough is a possible but it will depend upon whether Mick can ride him. He has done an awful lot of work on the horse and he isn't straightforward."
Ogden has three other horses still in the £90,000 handicap chase - market leaders Ad Hoc and Kingsmark as well as Extra Jack.
Paul Nicholls is to wait until the last possible moment before deciding which of his three horses will run in the Newbury showpiece.
He has leading fancy Ad Hoc and Extra Jack, both owned by Ogden, plus Norski Lad left in the £90,000 handicap chase. "I've made no plans. I am going to school them on Thursday morning and make a decision later in the week," said Nicholls. William Hill have Ad Hoc as 7 to 2 favourite with Kingsmark, who also carries Ogden's colours, a 4 to 1 shot. Marlborough is 16 to 1 while Extra Jack is 40 to 1 and Norski Lad 33 to 1.
Henrietta Knight reports her Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Lord Noelie an intended runner.
"We intend to run but we don't want too many cloudbursts down there.
"If it was very soft we would not go, but if it was good to soft we would have to have a go. He's come out of the Wincanton race well and seems in good form and Jim (Culloty) will ride him, he usually does."
Philip Hobbs also reports Bouchasson on course for the race.
"That's the plan, but I'm not certain who'll ride him at this stage," said the trainer.
Newbury betting: 7-2 Ad Hoc, 4-1 (with a run) Lady Cricket, Kingsmark, 7-1 Foxchapel King (from 8), 8-1 Beau, 9-1 King's Road, 10-1 Alexander Banquet, 14-1 Red Marauder, Windross, 16-1 Lord Noelie, Marlborough (from 14), 20-1 Browjoshy, Strong Tel (from 16), 25-1 bar.
