A DECISION will be made later this week on Flagship Uberalles' participation in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

The Noel Chance-trained six-year-old suffered an overreach when winning the Doubleprint Tingle Creek Trophy at Cheltenham last Saturday.

"The injury is in the bulb of the heel which means it is in an awkward place as the horse is standing on it all the time," explained Chance.

"He has got to get some work into him by the weekend but I am hopeful that the injury will heal quickly. I am just taking one day at a time."

Flagship Uberalles is a best-priced 10-1 with the Tote for the Boxing Day feature.

qLeading northern jump jockey Peter Niven has no plans to retire from race-riding in the near future.

Niven, 36, whose success on Loup The Loup at Musselburgh took him eight short of the 1,000-winner mark, said: "We are getting there and obviously it's a landmark I'd love to reach.

"I thoroughly enjoy this game and I do want to keep on riding. If I can get the rides I'll keep riding - I love it."

The Scotsman broke his neck in a fall last year but now feels as fit as ever.

He said: "I feel better physically and mentally than probably I've ever done in my riding career."