Moose set to miss Plate

Nearly A Moose, winner of last year’s Galway Plate, is unlikely to defend his title on July 28 after pulling a muscle.

The eight-year-old was a four-length winner of the Hewlett-Packard-sponsored chase last July but trainer Tom Mullins has had him on the easy list since last Friday.

He told the Racing Post: “Everything was flying and going according to plan when he pulled up lame in front. We sent him up to (vet) Ned Gowing and he told us the horse had pulled a muscle, so he is currently having a few days off.

“He was going to run on the Flat beforehand but, while it is very disappointing, it could have been a lot worse.”

Mullins is now hoping that Nearly A Moose can return to action at Galway in September.

He added: “There is a two-mile-five-furlong chase at that meeting that could be a possibility and I’ll enter him in the James Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal as well. I’d say he’ll run in that race and we’ll know then what we have.”