Hurricane Fly to miss Cheltenham

Willie Mullins has stated that his Hurricane Fly is to miss Cheltenham in favour of Punchestown, following news that his star novice hurdler's recuperation from a minor injury will take longer than expected.

The dual Grade 1 winning hurdler & antepost favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite was withdrawn from the recent Grade 1 Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown when he was found to be lame on the eve of the race. Mullins admitted he had run out of time to get the five-year-old back to full fitness from his recent splint problem.

"We've decided not to train him for Cheltenham as he has not made the improvement we had hoped for," said Mullins on Tuesday afternoon.

"We're going to concentrate on Punchestown with him and while it's disappointing, the upside is that it will come right as it just needs time."