Lady 'very unlikely' to return in April

Feathard Lady is unlikely to appear at the Punchestown Festival in April, but plans are fluid for her return to action next season.

Colm Murphy’s mare, who has a 100% record in her seven starts to date, shot to prominence in the UK with an impressive 12-length victory in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown on St Stephen's Day.

However, she was denied her place in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, won by stablemate Brave Inca, after spraining a hind fetlock joint on the gallops.

“Feathard Lady is back in work again but it is very unlikely that she will go to Punchestown now,” said Murphy.

“We would have had to really push on with her and it’s just going to come a little bit quick.

“It’s a little disappointing but the great thing is that we’ll have her back next season.

“At the moment we have no plans to keep her away from Brave Inca as they are owned by different people so they will probably clash somewhere along the line.”