JODAMI was yesterday ruled out of the Monkton Handicap Chase bat Wetherby tomorrow after suffering a minor setback. "He's got a bit of muck in his throat and he's Just isn't quite right at present," revealed disappointed trainer Peter Beaumont.

The 1993 Gold Cup hero has been on the sidelines since his narrow victory at Kelso in November. "This is very frustrating as we've been waiting a long time now to give him another race after all the abandonments. It makes it worse because he's been in super condition all the time until now," said Beaumont.

The Wetherby race had been opened up to Jodami when the race planners had agreed to make the race an open handicap. He is now likely to tackle the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday week before bidding to win the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopards town for the fourth year in a row.

"We'll put him on a bit of medication and he should be OK to go for the Haydock race. If shouldn't disrupt his preparation for the Irish race too much" said Beaumont.

The trainer is still uncertain whether Jodami's main target this season will be the Gold Cup or the Grand National. But Cheltenham is still a strong possibility after One Man's impressive showing at Sandown.

"People seem to have forgotten that Jodami was giving 16lb when he was beaten by One Man at Ayr in November. In the light of what's happened since that was a great performance," said Beaumont.