PLANS are currently on hold for the high-class chaser Forpadydeplasterer after he returned to Tom Cooper’s Co Kerry base a sick horse after being pulled up in Saturday’s King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The 2009 Arkle winner was clinically abnormal after he was pulled up before the 12th fence in the King George but he is now making pleasing progress in his recovery.

“Pady came home on Sunday. He’s okay now, his temperature is back to normal, and he is quite content with himself,” Cooper said yesterday. “It could have been a lot worse. It’s likely we’ll give him a bit of time off and take it from there.”

Cooper added: “We are none the wiser about whether he gets three miles or not. He ran no sort of race at Kempton so I’d be keen to give him another go (over three miles).”

– Brian O’Connor