NORTH Yorkshire trainer Peter Beaumont has put plans on hold for Hussard Collonges.

The horse disappointed in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup last week, and the Brandsby, near Easingwold, handler will leave a decision on whether to run him in the Martell Cognac Grand National for at least a week.

Last year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner was never going well in the blue riband event won by Best Mate.

"We've had him scoped and thoroughly tested and although he has a bit of a sore throat it wasn't enough to explain the way he ran at Cheltenham," said Beaumont.

"We'll see how we go with him for the next week or so and then make a decision on the National. At the moment we are not ruling anything in or out."

Hussard Collonges is the only one of Beaumont's three original entries left in the four-and-a-half mile spectacular.

He added: "Bobby Grant also has a sore throat and I've taken him out of the National, but I think he'll be all right to run again this season. There are a couple of races for him including the Scottish National at Ayr."

However, Beaumont has decided to retire 13-year-old Niki Dee, who finished third behind Papillon in the 2000 National and fell at the fourth last year.

He added: "Niki had been working very well and I was very happy with him. But unfortunately he has had problems and I don't really think his legs would stand up to any more racing.

"He's been a great servant to us and I always thought he was the type who could win a National. But that's how things go and he'll be well looked after in retirement."

Updated: 11:43 Wednesday, March 19, 2003