Gift may make quick return

TOP hurdler Iris’s Gift’s recent injury setback could be less serious than first thought.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner, who was expected to go novice chasing, suffered two hairline fractures of the cannonbone on the gallops last weekend and was initially believed to be out for the season.

“It’s not as bad as people have been making out,” said owner Robert Lester. “He’s in the veterinary hospital, but he’s not in plaster and will come home in the next few days.