Fancied Feathard doubtful for Champion Hurdle
Colm Murphy’s brilliant mare definitely won’t make the AIG Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29 and may yet join high-profile casualties such as Kicking King, Trabolgan and possibly Harchibald, as absentees from Prestbury Park in March.
“She has sprained her off-hind fetlock joint and will miss the Irish Champion Hurdle,” said Murphy.
“The vet had a look but we will know more in a few days to a week. We don’t know how long she will be out.
“We are lucky she doesn’t take a lot of work to get fit, so we haven’t given up at this stage. It is hard to say anything about Cheltenham at the moment.
“She did a canter on Monday morning and everything seemed fine. But when she pulled out of her box this morning (Tuesday) she was lame.”
Feathard Lady has been threatening to develop into the best mare this country has seen since the legendary Dawn Run, the only horse to ever win a Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double.
The six-year-old is unbeaten in seven races, producing her best performance at Sandown last month.
She beat Self Defense by a whopping 12 lengths in the Christmas Hurdle and was quickly promoted to the head of the Champion Hurdle market.
Murphy had intended to throw her in at the deep end in the AIG, where she would have clashed with teak-tough stable companion Brave Inca as well as dual Champion Hurdler, Hardy Eustace.
