Harper Valley Lame Harper Valley, who lowered the colours of Franchoek in the Boylesports.com Best Odds Juvenile Novices? Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, is lame after pulling up when 11/8 favourite for the John Smith?s Scottish Triumph Hurdle Trial at Musselburgh on Sunday. After hitting the fourth last hurdle hard, Jason Maguire called it a day before the next. Gordon Elliott, trainer of the Val Royal gelding said on Monday, "he is home and he is lame behind after pulling muscles. We will have to take things easy for a week or ten days and see how things are then." Harper Valley had been a best-priced 14/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 14th but he can be backed at 25/1 in the wake of yesterday?s disappointment and indeed he has been removed from many layers? lists.By Eamonn Murphy
