Jack on his way Back

Crack Away Jack is on the road to recovery and will return to action next season.

Once a strong fancy for the Arkle Trophy, the former top hurdler was found to have heat in his off-fore after finishing fourth to Petit Robin in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27.

However, his condition has improved and trainer Emma Lavelle has given an up-beat report.

"His legs seem very well and he's walking every day," said the Andover handler.

"The plan would be once the weather warms up a bit we'll turn him out, give him the summer off and then bring him back into work again for next season."

Crack Away Jack gave Lavelle a Cheltenham Festival success in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle two season ago and she outlined her provisional plans for this year's big meeting.

"I'm likely to have a few runners in the handicaps - the likes of King's Forest who is in the Jewson and Pause And Clause could go for the Coral Cup again. He was third in it last year," she went on.

"Then there's Easter Legend, who is in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle but whatever goes there is very much ground dependent.

"Kangaroo Court is in the Arkle but the way the weather is going he might go to Aintree instead."