Further setback scuppers Impervious Festival hopes

Colm Murphy’s star mare Impervious has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival following a further setback.

The nine-year-old is unbeaten over fences but has not been seen on a racecourse since comfortably winning the Mares Chase at the Punchestown Festival in April 2023.

That came just a month after she had won the equivalent race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Impervious is a perfect five from five over the larger obstacles and although the County Wexford handler had hoped to have her ready for Cheltenham, another problem means that is now off the cards.

Murphy said: “Unfortunately, we’ve had a little bit of a setback two days ago. So no, she’s not going to make Cheltenham. She’s gone home (to owner JP McManus) at the moment, she went home yesterday.

“There is no plan with her now. She is going to be reassessed by the vets and it will be a case of what they say.

“It’s been one little setback with her after another unfortunately. We didn’t get a clear run at her, so that route to Cheltenham is off.

“It’s a little bit up in the air with her now this season, so we’ll see what the vets say.”