MISSING IN ACTION
HOW are the mighty fallen by the wayside. That’s the sub-plot to Cheltenham Festival 2017, which opens tomorrow when the runners charge off from the tapes in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30.
By the very nature of the strains and stresses of the jumping game, the list of leading equine stars NOT taking part in this year’s Festival is a long and distinguished one.
In the week’s two big races – the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle – many leading contenders will be missing.
Thistlecrack is probably the biggest name that won’t feature on Friday’s race card.
Colin Tizzard’s stable star had been favourite for the Timicosponsored event for most of the season before a tendon strain ruled him out.
Also on the absent list is last year’s third, Don Poli, then in the care of Willie Mullins, but since transferred along with 60 other Michael O’Leary horses to Gordon Elliott’s yard after a dispute over training fees. He misses out through injury.
Another high-profile absentee is Don Cossack, who won’t be back to defend his crown after trainer Elliott decided to call time on his career after a recurrence of a tendon injury.
Another missing from action is Coneygree, who wasn’t entered after Sara and Mark Bradstock decided the 2015 winner had not recovered sufficiently from the problem that ruled him out of the King George at Kempton in December, and Vautour, who also had the Ryanair as an option. Vautour broke a leg in a freak accident at home.
Just like the Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle winners of the past two Festivals won’t be lining up this time around. Last year’s winner Annie Power was close to a return to action for Willie Mullins when a leg injury forced the trainer to scrap his Cheltenham plans for her. She may not be back until next season.
And the 2015 winner, Faugheen, Annie Power’s stablemate, was sidelined with a stress fracture which has kept him off the track since he won the Irish Champion Hurdle in January 2016.
One of the biggest stars of past Festivals who will miss out is Sprinter Sacre from the Nicky Henderson yard. He was put out to grass in November after suffering a leg injury but not before Henderson and his team had worked wonders to get the 2013 Champion Chase winner back on track to win the 2016 edition of the great race.
Other big names who won’t be seen this week include Ar Mad (Champion Chase/Ryanair), Sire De Grugy (Champion Chase/Grand Annual), Finian’s Oscar (Neptune), Coney Island (RSA/JLT) and Min (Ankle Trophy).