Clive Smith is not living in false hope over the chances of Master Minded racing again - although the owner feels it is not an impossibility just yet.
The dual Champion Chase winner underwent surgery on a tendon at a veterinary centre in Newmarket after badly striking into one of his legs during Monday's King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Master Minded, who is approaching his ninth birthday, has earned well over £1million in prize-money in a stellar career which has seen him strike nine times at Grade One level.
Stepping up to three miles for the first time in the King George, he had to be pulled up before the final fence as his Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Kauto Star, also owned by Smith, galloped to a famous victory.
"He's still up at the veterinary place in Newmarket after he had the operation on Boxing Day night. They have tidied up the tendon and taken a piece out, and repaired the sheath around it and sewn it up the best they could," Smith said.
"The problem is infection, and they are trying to make sure that doesn't happen. I expect we'll know more in a few days, but he'll be up there for a month, and then he'll need a long time off to recover."
Nicholls has plenty of experience in trying to bring horses back from serious injury, and it has provided Smith with mixed evidence.
He said: "It's difficult to be very hopeful about him coming back after the injury. I remember Azertyuiop did something similar after he ran at Sandown a few years ago. Paul got him back, but he just couldn't stand the training.
"I know Noland had an injury, I am not sure if it was quite the same, and he was off for two years and came back and won again. He was a bit younger than Master Minded, and it can be like in the case of Denman. They can come back, but then they are two years older and really too old for racing.
"I'm realistic about the chances. He's still going to be able to be looked after well if he's retired, but we're doing everything possible to get him back."
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