Weird Al misses Cheltenham

Published at Mar 13, 2010, 14:28

Weird Al, one of the leading fancies for Wednesday's RSA Chase, will miss the Cheltenham race after suffering a leg injury.

The seven-year-old suffered a suspected fracture of his off-fore cannon bone at trainer Ian Williams' Alvechurch gallops.

Already a winner at Cheltenham twice this season, he was last seen claiming the Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby under substitute jockey Paddy Brennan as his usual partner Noel Fehily had already been ruled out of the Festival through injury himself.

Williams said: "He has a potential stress fracture of his cannonbone and he will have an MRI scan next week which should confirm the injury.

"I have never been so devastated about a horse before and I'm mortified for the owners. This wasn't any race meeting, it was Cheltenham.

"We still have him and thankfully the prognosis from our team of vets is very good.

Latest Stories which may interest you

Tim Toe 'has a bit of class' and strikes on Flat debut

On what was his first start under Flat rules, Henry de Bromhead's Tim Toe led home 14 rivals in the concluding David McKeown A1 Generators Maiden.

Putapoundinthejar benefits from patient Harnett ride

Putapoundinthejar came from off the pace to defy top-weight in the Paddy Woods Memorial Apprentice Handicap.

Toby McCain-Mitchell handed 10-day ban for not pulling up Top Of The Bill in National

Toby McCain-Mitchell was banned for 10 days by the Aintree stewards for failing to pull up final-fence faller Top Of The Bill in the Randox Grand National.

Bay shows his Supremacy in His Majesty's Cup

A good third on his return last month, Bay Of Supremacy went a few places better in His Majesty's Cup Handicap.