Hurricane Fly Sore

Willie Mullins reports Hurricane Fly to be "sore" as the five-year-old faces a race against time to be fit for the Cheltenham Festival.

The son of Montjeu was due to go off a short-priced favourite for Sunday's Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown but was withdrawn from the race after suffering a setback.

The gelding will now be given a break and Mullins is keeping his fingers crossed his exciting novice recovers in time for the Festival - although his target at the meeting is still undecided.

"Hurricane Fly is sore enough this morning and we are just treating him the best we can," said the County Carlow handler.

"It seems to be a splint bone but we're not sure whether he got a knock on it or it's just active.

"Luckily enough I think we had plenty of work into him before Sunday's race, which gives me a chance to give him a little easy time and hopefully get him right for Cheltenham.

"The vet who saw him yesterday thought it might take six to eight days to heal and it would have to be that as I have to get him ready for Cheltenham.

"It was disappointing to miss the race on Sunday. He didn't need the run, it was just nice prize-money and I felt if he was fit and well, he would go there and take it, even though he was going to take on Cousin Vinny.

"He's a horse who I think needs a fair bit of exercise and he might as well be out earning his oats than standing in his stable, but then this injury came up.

"We just have to hope he recovers in time."