Saphir Du Rheu to undergo breathing operation
Despite travelling well for much of the three-mile Grade One contest the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old folded tamely when asked for maximum effort.
Staying on at the one pace, the Hennessy Gold Cup fifth occupied the same position as he finished more than 30 lengths adrift of winner Thistlecrack.
Owner Andy Stewart said: “It was simply an abysmal run. I am not taking anything away from the winner Thistlecrack, Reve De Sivola or even the third Deputy Dan.
“What happened after he ran in the Hennessy was that Sam (Twiston-Davies) said he made a little bit of a noise lugging that top weight around.
“We decided to run him in the Long Walk to see how he got on, but he just went out like a light.
“Buffy (Shirley-Beavan, vet) saw him this morning and said he has got a breathing problem, so he is going to have a soft palate operation at 10am tomorrow to try to clear it up.
“I have done this with many of my horses in the past, including Big Buck’s when he had a breathing problem.”
Although Saphir Du Rheu is set for a short spell on the sidelines, Stewart made it clear the Ladbrokes World Hurdle – in which he was second to Cole Harden last season – is still very much on the agenda.
He said: “He will still be campaigned for the World Hurdle, but he has got to improve quite substantially on yesterday’s run for him to even be second again.
“We might give him a racecourse gallop or a run somewhere before that, we will just see how quickly he recovers from the operation.
“With him only being six it should only take three to four weeks.
“On yesterday’s run you have got to say that he is not the horse we thought he was, he is not the horse that won so easily at Aintree.
“However, we have not written him off just yet.”
- Owner-trainer John Ryan is mulling the options for Kylecrue following the eight-year-old’s latest gallant effort when third in the Troytown Handicap Chase.
Races at Limerick and Leopardstown over the Christmas period and the Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse next month are being considered for Kylecrue, who filled the same spot in the Cork Grand National before taking minor honours at Navan.
“He’s perfect after his last race. We’re planning where to go next,” said Ryan.
“There’s a nice race at Limerick over two-mile-three, worth 50,000 euro, or he could go to Leopardstown for a two-mile-five handicap chase.
“He’s in tremendous form and schooled well the other day.
“He’ll also have an entry in the Dan Moore and I’m putting Draycott Place in there as well.”
