Unbeaten United Bound For County

The Lucy Wadham-trained United is set to make a complete return to fitness in time for the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The five-year-old mare put in her first serious piece of work on earlier this week after a muscle injury ruled her out of the totesport Trophy in February.

United had been mooted as a serious Champion Hurdle contender having claimed three consecutive victories over timer since joining Wadham's yard from Germany.

And while a lack of race fitness means such lofty aspirations must be shelved this year, the Newmarket-based handler is confident her stable star will be ready to make a comeback in the County Hurdle, for which she is a 12-1 chance with Paddy Power.

'She's in good order and did her first bit of real work on Tuesday,' said Wadham.

'We had to take her out of the Champion Hurdle because I just couldn't run her as she'd have had to improve a lot from how she was.

'She's going to run when she is ready but the way things are going, I can see her being OK for the County Hurdle.'

? PA Sport