Voy Por Ustedes bids to go out on a high

Former champion chaser Voy Por Ustedes looks set to make his final appearance at Cheltenham on Wednesday after struggling to live up to his very best this season.

Though the Alan King-trained gelding is only nine, owner Sir Robert Ogden is anxious that one of his favourite horses goes out at the top in the Silver Trophy Chase.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to Sir Robert, said: "Voy Por Ustedes has been such a great standard bearer for us, winning a Queen Mother Champion Chase and an Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and two Melling Chases at Aintree.

"But he was bitterly disappointing in the Ryanair Chase at last month's Festival and the signs are that he has started his descent.

Sir Robert loves the horse too much to see him go downhill - he has used the analogy of a heavyweight champion ending up fighting in the booths to earn a crust and he won't allow that to happen.

"He was keen to call it a day after the Cheltenham Festival but Alan King asked for one last roll of the dice to see if there is still some fire in the belly."