EXCITING Colin Tizzard-trained two-mile chaser Fox Norton will miss the Betfair Tingle Creek next week after being ruled out until the New Year.

The six-year-old was hugely impressive on his seasonal reappearance in a Cheltenham handicap last month, prompting leading owners Alan and Ann Potts to snap him up.

The former Neil Mulholland inmate returned to Prestbury Park to make his debut for Milborne Port handler Tizzard in the Shloer Chase and another runaway victory saw him cut to as short as 6-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase back at Cheltenham next March.

Connections initially identified the Tingle Creek as a possible next port of call for the charge, but he will not line up in the Sandown Grade One after suffering a setback.

Speaking in a stable tour for At The Races, the trainer’s son and assistant, Joe Tizzard, said: “He has only had the one run for us and we had only had him 10 days so we can’t take any credit for that.

“He turned up from Neil Mulholland’s looking beautiful and he has put himself right into the Champion Chase picture now.

“He had quite a nasty cut after Cheltenham so he won’t be out again until the New Year.”