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Champion 'not part of plan' for Yorkhill

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© Photo Healy Racing

Willie Mullins has no plans to supplement Yorkhill for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Winner of the Neptune Novices' Hurdle last March, Yorkhill embarked on his novice chase career this season, making a successful debut at Fairyhouse in December before following up when switched to Grade Three company at Leopardstown last time.

Mullins has lost his leading Champion Hurdle contenders Faugheen and Annie Power to injury in recent weeks, but he has no intention of supplementing Yorkhill for the highlight of the opening day at this stage.

"I'm happy to keep him over fences," Mullins told the Irish Times.

"It's his novice year. We could seriously have a think about putting him back over hurdles next season if we want to. But at the moment we're not thinking like that.

"At the moment the Champion Hurdle is not part of our plan."