Irving ‘unlikely’ to make Cheltenham Champion Hurdle bid

Irving’s participation in next month’s Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham is in doubt.

In light of the seven-year-old’s second place finish behind Blue Heron in Saturday’s Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, Oscar Yeadon, assistant racing manager for owners Axom, warned a trip to the Festival to contest the opening day feature is “unlikely”.

His defeat at the weekend was his second in succession following his victory in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November after being pulled up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.