Nick Gifford believes an infection was to blame for Straw Bear's tame effort in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on St Stephen's Day.
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up failed to follow up on his "Fighting Fifth" victory last week and weakened following the turn for home to finish fourth under Tony McCoy.
Connections were initially puzzled by the JP McManus-owned six-year-old's performance as he failed to confirm Newcastle form with Noble Request and Desert Quest, but a tracheal wash revealed an infection.
Trainer Nick Gifford said: "The wash was cloudy and dirty so he has some sort of infection, but I am just waiting to get the test results to see exactly what it is. He will need a course of antibiotics to treat it so I can't say for sure where he will run next, but I don't imagine he will be off for too long as he is so well in himself."
Straw Bear has been targeted at the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle all season and is now a 12 to 1 chance for the March 13th event with Coral.
Emma Lavelle is keeping a close eye on conditions at Sandown before making a decision on whether Rio De Janeiro will tackle the Anglo Irish Bank Tolworth Hurdle.
The six-year-old has been off the track since finishing second behind subsequent Ebor winner Mudawin on the level at Sandown in July.
However, Rio De Janeiro, a son of Sadler's Wells, has not run since that race after suffering a ligament injury. "He just had to have a bit of time off but he's 100 per cent again now and coming back to full fitness," said Lavelle. "I wouldn't be certain that he would run at this stage.
"I wouldn't want to see the ground go too soft for him and that looks like it could be a problem."
Rio De Janeiro has only had four starts over hurdles but has some good runs to his credit under both codes. Lavelle added: "The Sandown form certainly reads well as Mudawin went on to win the Ebor but his hurdles form is not too bad either as he wasn't beaten far by Moon Over Miami last year and he is a pretty good horse."
Lavelle also issued an upbeat bulletin on stayer Tana River. "He's in very good order and the plan is to go for the Tote Classic Chase at Warwick on January 13," she said.
Ungaro, who preserved his unbeaten record over fences with a 10-length drubbing of Boychuk at Kempton on St Stephen's Day, is to tackle the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on February 3rd before any Cheltenham plans are firmed-up.
Keith Reveley's charge was yesterday reported "fine" by his trainer following that Stan James Feltham Novices' Chase victory against a top-class field.
The Saltburn trainer said: "He'll be entered for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival, but whether he runs depends on ground conditions. He seems to prefer decent ground." Ungaro, as short as 7 to 1 for that contest with Coral, is a 16 to 1 shot with Betfred.
Meanwhile, punters at Southwell were amazed yesterday when Tioga Gold produced a 125 to 1 shock in the Pontin's Holiday Handicap. A distant last of 11 runners on his previous start, the eight-year-old led approaching the final furlong and held on to deny Nayodabayo by three-quarters of a length to give Malton trainer Lee James his first winner in just under six years.
The gelding, whose only other success came at Southwell in December 2001 when trained by Brian Meehan, was matched at 1,000 to 1 on Betfair to the tune of £40.
