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Monbeg Genius could return quickly for a run at the Cheltenham Festival after disappointing in his Grand National prep at Kelso on Saturday.
The gelding had been well supported for the Aintree showpiece prior to a below-par run in the Listed bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday, where he struggled with some jumping errors and weakened after the second-last fence to finish over thirty lengths adrift of the winner Thunder Rock.
Bookmakers reacted by pushing the Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding out to 33/1 in places for the Grand National.
It has been a difficult season for Monbeg Genius, with the eight-year-old's right to run in question after owners Michelle Mone and Doug Barrowman became subject to a restraint order. With the British Horseracing Authority confirming that the gelding would not be affected, O'Neill is open to the idea of returning quickly for a run at the Cheltenham Festival before Aintree.
In an interview with Sky Sports Racing, O'Neill said: "He's fine but it was disappointing really, we were expecting a better show than that, to be fair.
"He'll have to come on a lot, but he's come out of it fine and we might even give him another spin at Cheltenham, we'll see. It wasn't the plan but he might come on a bit more.
"The practice might help, he didn't jump great yesterday, he didn't do anything that we hoped he would, so let's see how he is.
"He's in at Cheltenham, so we'll have a look and see."
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