GORDON ELLIOTT has been dealt a huge blow with Grade 1 winner Irish Point ruled out for the season.
The Robcour-owned six-year-old finished second to State Man in last year’s Champion Hurdle.
Irish Point won’t run this season after picking up an injury[/caption]
He had picked up two Grade 1s before that, including at Aintree and the Jack de Bromhead hurdle by 11 lengths at Leopardstown last Christmas.
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But Elliott has confirmed the 12-1 Stayers’ Hurdle fancy is out for the season after suffering a setback.
He told the Racing Post: “Unfortunately, Irish Point has met with a setback and it will mean he misses the whole season.
“It’s obviously a shame as he was one we were really looking forward to.
“It’s definitely not career-threatening or anything like that and he’s still a young horse with his best days ahead of him.
“I’ve no doubt he will be back next season and we’ll look forward to getting him back on a racecourse then.”
Irish Point’s injury means March’s Stayers’ Hurdle looks Teahupoo’s to lose.
The defending champ, who is also trained by Elliott and owned by Robcour, is just 2-1 to make it two in a row in the Thursday feature.
Meanwhile, Elliott also confirmed that the hugely exciting Brighterdaysahead is to stay over hurdles.
The Gigginstown House mare, who was odds-on for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the last Festival but finished second to Golden Ace, was 5-2 fav for the Mares’ Chase.
But Elliott told At The Races she will definitely stay over the smaller obstacles.
He said: “We strongly considered sending her novice chasing, but the decision is made, and she’ll stay hurdling.
“She’ll start back in the Jezki Hurdle at Down Royal on November 1st.
“She looks to be an obvious candidate for the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the longer term.
“We’ve never hidden how highly we regard her, and we can’t wait to get her back on the track. We think the world of her.”
More to follow.
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