Supreme career in balance

Rule Supreme’s racing career is in the balance after the Willie Mullins-trained gelding picked up a tendon injury that will keep him on the sidelines for over a year.

The nine-year-old has won eight of his 34 starts including the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown, the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the French Champion Hurdle.

“He’s out for the season having picked up a tendon injury, which is a real pity,” said Mullins.

“He was having a gallop last week when it happened as we were getting him ready for a race in France.

“You do have to wonder if he’ll make it back to the track because he’s not going to be back this year and it will probably be after Christmas next year before he could run again by which time he will be 11.

"It’s a tough ask for 11-year-olds to come back but he has good powers of recovery which is in his favour.”