Bob Olinger to miss Saturday clash with My Drogo at Cheltenham

Bob Olinger will not make an early-season trip to Cheltenham to face My Drogo on Saturday, trainer Henry de Bromhead has revealed.

An entry for the impressive Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner in this weekend's bearrene.com Novices' Chase (12.40) created the possibility of a clash between the two bright talents when the possible fields were revealed on Monday.

Dan Skelton said My Drogo, who came down at the second-last in an eventful novice chase won by the De Bromhead-trained Gin On Lime at Cheltenham last month, would line up in the 2m4½f event regardless of whether Bob Olinger appeared.

However, with the ground described as good to soft on Wednesday, the all-conquering Waterford trainer has decided to keep Bob Olinger at home this weekend.

Bob Olinger: could go to Limerick at ChristmasCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

"He won't be going to Cheltenham on Saturday," De Bromhead told the Racing Post on Wednesday.

A definite target for the Robcour-owned star's next run has yet to be revealed by connections. The Grade 1 BoyleSports Faugheen Novice Chase over 2m3½f at Limerick on December 26 was mentioned as a potential option after his winning debut over fences at Gowran last month.

De Bromhead's Randox Grand National hero Minella Times is seemingly none the worse for his fall last Sunday in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, his first start of the campaign.

He remains a general 20-1 chance for the Aintree highlight next April.

Owner JP McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said: "Minella Times came out of the race fine. You won't see him again until the new year."

Janidil: excellent second in the John Durkan Memorial Chase on his comeback last weekendCredit: Patrick McCann

He added of the same owner's Janidil, who posted an excellent effort when pressing Allaho all the way home in second: "It was a good run for his first start back. Willie [Mullins] said he came out of the race fine. He has options coming up and Willie will make up his mind closer to the time."

Returning to three miles appears to be a live possibility for staying-on John Durkan fourth Fakir D'Oudairies, potentially in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained six-year-old is priced between 10-1 and 14-1 for the Grade 1 Christmas feature.

"He ran a little bit disappointingly even though he finished fourth," said Berry.

"He seems to have come out of the race okay and plans are still up in the air."

Berry added: "He's got entries for Kempton and Leopardstown. I'd imagine Leopardstown might be more on the agenda. He seemed to keep going well at Punchestown."

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