Simonsig winning the 2013 Arkle Chase© Photo Healy Racing
Nicky Henderson is non-committal as to whether Simonsig could have his first run back in the King George at Kempton on St Stephen's Day.
The dual Cheltenham Festival winner has only tasted defeat once in nine outings under National Hunt Rules and maintained his perfect record over fences when winning the 2013 Arkle Chase at Prestbury Park.
The eight-year-old hasn't raced since and the Seven Barrows trainer is keen not ask too much of him too soon.
Speaking at Newbury, Henderson said: "It would be a tall order for Simonsig to go to the King George, wouldn't it? But I can't say 'no he won't'. It would be a lot to ask him to miss the season then come into a three-mile chase having never been three miles before.
"He had been in really good order, and it has been frustrating. He's missed 10 days and he's perfectly fine now. He had a splint on a near-fore before and his problem is nothing to do with that. He was a bit lame behind. He's always a horse who you have to be careful with, with his constitution. He wouldn't be the most robust and if you bully him, you can push him the wrong way very quickly.
"Sprinter Sacre is the opposite, I've got to push him through this. There aren't many options. You come to the Victor Chandler next or the Desert Orchid and we will keep everybody posted.
"We are conscious of where we are and where everybody else is, as well. It is disappointing with Sprinter out, Sire De Grugy out - everybody was looking forward to it, well, I don't know if I was, actually!
"Nobody wants to see Sprinter more than we do. It is tough to say 'no' when you know you want to run. We are not running on Saturday week because of the ground. The horse is 101 per cent and we ummed and ahhed all morning.
"He wouldn't be in training if we didn't think we would get there with him. He is in full exercise and work, but we are not going to take chances and push him. You can't force it to happen. It will if we let it, but if we push it - wheels will fall off these horses."
Some questions have been raised about the well-being of the Henderson string, with three odds-on chances beaten at Kempton on Monday.
Henderson, however, is adamant all is well, saying: "Too many people are saying there is something wrong with the horses.
"They are nearly there but we can't go off half-cocked. If you don't notice the difference between a horse that is 95 per cent and 101 per cent then you shouldn't be doing it.
"We all know what we have to live with - that's a trainer's life - it's not always much fun when you have horses ruled out.
"We are thinking of taking Oscar Whisky to the Tingle Creek. I will think about it.
"Bobs Worth might go to the Lexus after a racecourse gallop."
