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JLT Chase hope has undergone surgery on a hairline fracture

Master Dino has undergone an operation for a hairline fracture on a hind leg and will miss the Cheltenham Festival.

Sent over from France for a race at Plumpton on Sunday, the Guillaume Macaire-trained five-year-old easily accounted for Gary Moore’s classy Knocknanuss.

A dual Grade One winner over hurdles in his homeland, he was catapulted towards the head of the betting for the JLT Novices’ Chase in March.

Macaire had hoped to run him in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown before then, but all plans are now on hold.

He is owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and their racing manager, Anthony Bromley, tweeted: “Very disappointing news to report that Master Dino will miss this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

“(He) has had surgery this morning to insert three screws in his hind leg. Glad to say he is fine after the operation. Now the long road of recuperation.”