Conditions to blame for Unaccompanied flop Connections of Unaccompanied blamed the gruelling conditions for her disappointing display in Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. Dermot Weld's mare was expected to give the returning Hurricane Fly plenty to think about in the Grade One contest, but trailed home a well-beaten fourth of five runners in the heavy ground. Stan Cosgrove, racing manager for owners Moyglare Stud, said: "It was a disappointing run, but she was scoped after the race and she was perfect. "I think the ground just got to her. Davy (Russell) said she was gurgling a bit in her throat for the last half-mile, but it was down to the ground. "She's only a five-year-old and it was very hard work for her. "There was water splashing around on the track and I'd say if it hadn't been for that race, the meeting might not even have gone ahead. "She doesn't want hard ground, she likes a little bit of give, but she couldn't handle that really heavy ground. "She's a filly with a lot of speed and she couldn't show it on Sunday." Last season's Triumph Hurdle runner-up is now as big as 25-1 for the Champion Hurdle should she return to Cheltenham, but Cosgrove says there is no rush to make a decision. He added: "We'll see how she is over the next couple of weeks and speak with Dermot."
