Paul Nicholls was yesterday hoping that Rockforce, who finished lame when taking the Mitsubishi Ascot Chase on Saturday, will race again.

But the gelding faces a lengthy spell on the easy list after sustaining a tendon injury when beating Celibate by a length and a half in the Ascot feature.

Nicholls said: "He's comfortable in the circumstances and has been seen by our vet Brian Eagles and we will review the situation throughout the week as the horse's best interests will come first.

"He has a fairly bad tendon injury but there's a very strong possibility he will race again. However, he's obviously out for the rest of the season and next season but he's only eight years old and he could be back after that.

"It's a case of giving him plenty of time and the best care as he's not got that many miles on the clock and is a horse that's talented enough to persevere with."

Rockforce was unbeaten in four races this season and his trainer had planned to take the eight-year-old to the Cheltenham Festival. Nordance Prince remains on course for the Cheltenham Festival despite crashing out of the Saturday's race.

Venetia Williams' charge also fell on his previous start at Cheltenham but the trainer is still looking forward to a tilt at the Champion Chase next month.

She said: "He's a little bit stiff this morning but basically he will be all right in a day or so."

Meanwhile, Katarino should get back to winning ways in today's Bonusprint National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

The gelding looked a world-beater as a juvenile hurdler last season, winning his five starts. The highlight came at Cheltenham when he gave trainer Nicky Henderson a third win in the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle.

He made a very satisfactory reappearance at Auteuil over today's trip of two and half miles in November, finishing second in a Grade One contest.

And all was clearly not well with him when he trailed in well beaten in the Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham last time as he has been given over a two-month break since.

Henderson is much happier with the five-year-old's condition now, and looks to have found him the ideal race in which to regain winning ways.