Mikael set to skip rest of season

Willie Mullins admits his exciting prospect Mikael D’Haguenet is unlikely to be seen in racecourse action before the end of the season.

The six-year-old was successful at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals in 2009 but his comeback has been delayed a number of times due to minor injury concerns.

There had been hope that Mikael D’Haguenet might still make the Cheltenham Festival after he enjoyed a racecourse school at Leopardstown in February, but Mullins was not entirely happy with his charge in the aftermath and is leaning towards scrapping the current campaign.

“Mikael D’Haguenet is just being rested for now, having been stiff and sore after his last schooling session before Cheltenham,” Mullins told his weekly blog on www.goracing.ie.

“I’m going to have a good look at him this week. Hopefully he’ll have recovered fully from all his aches and pains, and then it’s a question of deciding what to do.

“At this stage, I imagine we’ll probably just try to get him ready for next season.”