Cross return ‘unlikely’
The eight-year-old suffered a bad overreach and cut into a tendon muscle when finishing a head behind My Way De Solzen at the Cheltenham Festival.
“He’s not in training and won’t be for the foreseeable future,” said Halford.
“You’d have to say it’s unlikely he will return but you can never say never.
“He’s making slow progress but he certainly won’t be back this season.”
Meanwhile Halford’s Tipperary All Star could return to Britain for the totesport Trophy at Newbury next month.
He produced a noteworthy jumping performance on his penultimate start at Cheltenham when he hacked up in a novices’ hurdle over an extended two miles.
The highly-rated seven-year was then sent to Ascot for The Ladbroke but finished 17th of 20 runners after shooting up 24lb in the weights.
Tipperary All Star is back in light training after that disappointment and could take in the Newbury Grade Three on February 10 before returning to Cheltenham for the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, for which he is a 14-1 chance with bet365.
“He’s been fine since (Ascot) but whether he gets a run before Cheltenham depends on the ground,” said Halford.
“If the ground improves, we’ll possibly give him a run in a novices’ race at Leopardstown and I’d also have him in the big handicap at Newbury.
“We were always going to give him a break after Ascot but he’s back cantering and is in good health, thank God.”
