MONET'S GARDEN .

Monet's Garden continues to make heartening progress as he battles against a life-threatening hoof infection.

The 13-year-old grey developed the career-ending affliction after suffering an injury when winning the Old Roan Chase for a third time at Aintree in October.

"He's in a fine, stable condition, despite the reduction in medication - and it was a pretty big reduction," owner David Wesley Yates reported.

"There's a long way to go, but we were looking for a window of progress when he didn't have any bad days, and we've now found that. He was having good days but was having bad days a week or so ago, but the bad days appear to have ended."

Monet's Garden remains at Oaklands Veterinary Centre in Yarm, Cleveland, but could soon return to trainer Nicky Richards' yard in Cumbria.

His plight has not only touched the racing fraternity, but has also prompted the interest of an American veterinary specialist.

Wesley Yates added: "The next big hurdle to overcome is to get him standing four-square. His heel is wedged at the back to keep pressure off the hoof, so we are going to have to let that down in time.

"That will be a gradual process, but a specialist in Michigan in America has read about the problem and is working very closely with the vets.

"He's still at Oaklands but, in time, we'd be hoping to get him home so he can be with his pals."

Brilliant news re MONET'S GARDEN , the hugely popular grey who has been fighting a life-threatening hoof infection, is back home at Nicky Richards' Greystoke yard.

The 13-year-old triple Grade 1 winner has been treated at the Oaklands Veterinary Centre, in Cleveland, since late last year but vets felt he was ready to return to Greystoke after making a steady recovery.

"We've had a lot of very dark days over the past few weeks but this was fantastic," said Richards, whose daughter Joey looks after Monet's Garden.

Speaking at Kelso racecourse, Richards added: "You could feel it put a bit of a bounce in everybody's step. As you can imagine he is a firm favourite at Greystoke.

"Joey has just rung up and said he is in his box, down rolling and acting the goat a little bit, but he will settle himself down. He is having a talk to his neighbour in the next box, wondering how things have been going. Not very bloody well!"

Next stop Greystoke: Monet's Garden is ready for the journey home

The outlook was bleak for Monet's Garden when he developed the infection in his off-fore hoof after winning the Old Roan Chase at Aintree for the third time in October.

In early January owner David Wesley Yates said it was "very doubtful" Monet's Garden would survive but that he wanted to give his horse every chance to recover. He defied the advice of two vets to have Monet's Garden put down when the infection was diagnosed.

The grey was fitted with a special shoe and treated with antibiotics, but he came off the drugs in late January and his continued recovery encouraged vets to send him home.

His return to Greystoke was a boost for the yard following the loss of Money Trix, another of Richards's popular grey staying chasers. The 11-year-old, owned by Craig Bennett, suffered a serious injury in Saturday's Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown and had to be put down.

"It is very hard to take when that happens," Richards said. "Craig was very upset. We took him to the university veterinary college there and x-rayed him, but it was clear that the best thing to do was put him to sleep.

"It's the hardest game when that happens."

Excellent news...met the horse once on a visit to Greystoke, and saw him come up the gallops.

Thanks Mully, not ashamed to say that brought a tear to my eye

Good to see Mr Grossick was on hand to get some good photos

Absolutely superb news, he was always one of my favourites on the track as he was such a fighter, now he has shown it off the track. You can't keep a good horse down. Good to see an owner and trainer sticking by a retired horse as well, and not giving up.

Brought a tear to my eye too.