RACING NEWS:Three-time Grade One winner Mikael D'Haguenet has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins' six-year-old was successful at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in 2009 but his comeback has been delayed a number of times due to minor injury concerns.
There had been hope that Mikael D’Haguenet might still head to Prestbury Park after he enjoyed a racecourse school following racing at Leopardstown on Sunday, but Mullins feels the showpiece meeting will come too soon.
“Mikael D’Haguenet is out of Cheltenham, he was stiff and sore after the piece of work on Sunday which means we couldn’t do any fast work with him today and we’ve run out of time for the Cotswolds,” said the champion trainer.
WITH THE Cheltenham Festival less than a fortnight away, Ruby Walsh was lucky to escape injury as Paul Nicholls’s Earth Planet smashed through the wing of a fence as he tried to run out and sent his rider flying straight at the obstacle with a circuit to go in an eventful Royal Bath and West Beginners’ Chase at Taunton yesterday.
That left favourite Dover’s Hill and Vodka Brook to fight it out but as the former came down at the final obstacle, that left Robert and Sally Alner’s Vodka Brook (11 to 2) and Daryl Jacob to pass the post 11 lengths ahead of Procas De Thaix.
“The Earth Planet fall was awful and it was nice to see Ruby get back to his feet after that,” said Sally Alner. “The main thing we wanted to do with our horse was get him a clear round as he had unseated on his last couple of runs, but he’s done it well. We’re not going to be flying high with him and we’ll just try and find something similar.”
Nicholls and Walsh did hit the bullseye in the concluding Kingston Veterinary Group “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle with King’s Legacy.
Sent off the 6 to 4 favourite on his first start since winning a Kempton bumper just over a year ago, the six-year-old cruised up to challenge Sir Kezbaah at the final flight. The latter refused to go down without a fight but Walsh was typically strong in the finish and his mount passed the post a short-head to the good.
Duke Of Lucca is set for a step back up in class after proving too strong for hot favourite Pistolet Noir in the St James’s Place Wealth Management Novices’ Hurdle.
Philip Hobbs’s five-year-old won his first two outings over obstacles in good style but fluffed his lines in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
Despite this drop in grade, he again appeared up against it as he took on Triumph Hurdle hope Pistolet Noir (8 to 15) from the Nicholls yard.
The latter travelled well enough but his jumping was not always fluent and Duke Of Lucca pulled well clear under Richard Johnson to score by seven lengths.
“That was very pleasing. He won here and he won at Newbury and we thought he’d go on to better things, but maybe I just ran him too quickly in the Challow Hurdle,” said Hobbs. “The ground was bottomless as well and we held him up that day which maybe he didn’t like.”
Duke Of Lucca’s triumph was the second leg of a double on the card for Hobbs and Johnson as they had earlier struck with Voramar Two in the Royal Bath and West Novices’ Hurdle.
Sent off at 1 to 6 following success over course and distance a month ago, the result was scarcely in doubt as he overcame a final flight mistake to score by 14 lengths from Upham Atom.
“I was delighted with him and it’s more experience for him, which is what he needs at this stage,” Hobbs added.
“Besides the last he’s jumped very well and I should think he’ll go for the three-mile novice hurdle at Aintree.”
Holmwood Legend gained his second course success in less than a fortnight in the Deane Veterinary Centre Novices’ Handicap Chase. Pat Rodford’s nine-year-old had scored with plenty up his sleeve on his latest appearance at the end of February and was sent off at 5 to 4 to follow up despite the drop in trip.
He made a slight mistake going down the back but it was not enough to stop his momentum and he powered clear in the home straight to score by four and a half lengths from Local Present.
Rash Move sprung a 33 to 1 surprise in the Richard Williams Memorial Hunters’ Chase.
Mikael out of time
Three-time Grade One winner Mikael D’Haguenet has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins’ six-year-old was successful at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in 2009 but his comeback has been delayed a number of times due to minor injury concerns.
There had been hope that Mikael D’Haguenet might still head to Prestbury Park after he enjoyed a racecourse school following racing at Leopardstown on Sunday, but Mullins feels the showpiece meeting will come too soon.
“Mikael D’Haguenet is out of Cheltenham, he was stiff and sore after the piece of work on Sunday which means we couldn’t do any fast work with him today and we’ve run out of time for the Cotswolds,” said the champion trainer.
