Hurricane Fly Could Miss Cheltenham Festival Once More

Hurricane Fly the Willie Mullins star hurdler looks a doubt for the Champion Hurdle this coming March having received another setback over the weekend. This latest injury follows on from the splint injury he had which kept him out of last years Cheltenham Festival and the Supreme Novices Hurdle where he was the ante post favourite.

Hurricane Fly had a disappointing return to the track in the Punchestowns Hurdle in November where he was beaten by Solwhit but it was obvious he was in need of that run, which trainer Mullins was at pains to communicate prior to the race. Since then the Champion Hurdle picture has been a very cloudy one, with all the leading contenders getting beat by less fancied horse and the 2010 Champion Hurdle is going to be one the most open races in years.

Hurricane Fly will now miss next weeks December Hurdle at Leopardstown and it is unclear as to how long his new injury which is a sprained suspensory ligament will take to heal. Trainer Mullins said last evening that "He has a sprained suspensory ligament and Leopardstown is definitely out of the question. There also has to be a major doubt about him making the Champion Hurdle."

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