Mount Benbulben suffers setback and will miss Cheltenham Festival

Mount Benbulben has suffered a setback that has ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival.

Owner Barry Connell revealed the Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old, a Grade One novice chase winner at the Punchestown Festival last April, had sustained a splint bone fracture which may be enough to keep him out for the rest of the season.

Connections had considered supplementing Mount Benbulben for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, although he held entries in the Ryanair Chase and the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, before the injury surfaced.

“He has a fracture of his splint bone. It’s not a major issue, but he’ll be out of action for a little while,” said Connell.

“It’s too early to say if he’ll run again this season. He’s gone down to be examined. It’s nothing too serious, he should definitely be back for next season anyway.”

Meanwhile, My Tent Or Yours confirmed his well-being for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following a pleasing workout at Seven Barrows yesterday morning.

Slight concern
Nicky Henderson said the two-times Grade One winner has now recovered from a wound in a sole of a foot which had led to a slight concern over his participation in the big race on the opening day of the Festival.

My Tent Or Yours, winner of the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton this winter, will again flex his muscles in a spin on Friday, although the champion trainer has repeatedly stressed all of his significant work for Cheltenham was completed some time ago.

Henderson said: “He’s 100 per cent fine and he cantered this morning. He’ll work again tomorrow and he’s absolutely fine.

“In terms of how he is, he’s where he was last week and the week before that.”

My Tent Or Yours warmed up for the Champion Hurdle with a jumpers’ bumper victory at Kempton last month and is as big as 5/1 for Cheltenham glory.