La Bague Au Roi set to sidestep Cheltenham Festival after beating off rivals in Flogas Novice Chase
The hardy mare "needs a rest" and is more likely to take in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree
LA BAGUE AU ROI is likely to bypass the Cheltenham Festival and head to Aintree instead.
The unbeaten chaser was a gritty winner of the Flogas on Sunday and is set for an eight-week break before heading to Liverpool.
Despite the mare's apparent superiority over her division, trainer Warren Greatrex has all but ruled his stable star out of both the JLT and the RSA.
With the star eight-year-old having had four outings in quick succession, the handler believes she needs a well-earned rest.
He said: "I was very nervous yesterday and I could not wait to get it over and done with, but it was worth the wait and it all went to plan.
"With Delta Work not running, it did make the job a little bit easier, but there were still some good novices in there. She jumped well yesterday and galloped all the way to the line.
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"I would say it is highly unlikely that she will go to Cheltenham. It is five weeks to Cheltenham and over eight weeks until Aintree, where she would go back up in trip.
"I think common sense would suggest it would not be the done thing to go there with all the travelling she has had and she needs a rest.
"We will see how she is, but the most important thing is to look after her."