Sackville injury puts Cheltenham bid in doubt
The rest of his season is in the balance after the chaser suffered a leg injury during a racecourse workout at the Kilkenny venue.
The 10-year-old gelding, trained by Frances Crowley at nearby Piltown, unseated his amateur rider Gareth Power at the first of two fences after completing a two-mile exercise with stable companion Moscow Express.
Having worked well on the level, he was then set to jump a couple of fences in the straight. But he hit the first obstacle very hard and parted company with Power.
Sackville suffered a nasty cut to his near-fore, bled profusely, and was soon transported to Ned Gowing’s veterinary practice on the Curragh for treatment. A visibly upset Crowley immediately abandoned all plans to run Sackville in the near future.
“He’s not in the Hennessy at Leopardstown and the plan was either the Thyestes at Gowran next Thursday or the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham. Those races will certainly come too soon,” he said.
Last night Sackville was being assessed on the Curragh, but Crowley confirmed he is definitely out for the rest of the campaign. “It’s an overreach on the near fore. It’s a nasty cut but at least it’s not a tendon,” he said.
“This means he won’t be running anywhere in the immediate future, which is a great pity as he seemed to be in such good form,” she added.
Sackville had been a 33-1 chance with William Hill for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
