ESPOIR D’ALLEN, THE winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March in a memorable fashion, could be set to miss the upcoming season after suffering an injury.
The Racing Post have reported this morning that the JP McManus owned horse has been left ‘very lame and sore’ after an accident at home.
“Last Thursday he had done a little canter and coming back in off the gallop he got spooked, reared up and fell over,” said trainer Gavin Cromwell.
“He is in Fethard Equine Hospital and we still haven’t found what’s wrong with him, but it looks like he is going to be out for the season.
“He is very lame and sore on his right front side and he hasn’t improved since he went down there. They are still doing tests on him to try and find the problem and the vets don’t seem very optimistic of him making a speedy recovery.
“It’s a massive blow for everybody in the yard.”
Jockey Mark Walsh steered Espoir D’Allen to that brilliant Cheltenham victory at a price of 16-1.
Dual winner Buveur D’Air had commanded much of the pre-race focus with Irish mares Apple’s Jade and Laurina expected to produce major challenges.
But instead Walsh and Cromwell combined to land the major prize for McManus with a hugely impressive performance to win by 15 lengths.
Espoir D'Allen wins the Champion hurdle! ☘ ☘ ☘
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 12, 2019
JP McManus owned and ridden by Mark Walsh 🇮🇪#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/MRnqoKX6Ms
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Had to double-Cech the headline there. Looks like he’s put his football career on ice.
@EK: he won’t fancy the body cechs in ice hockey I would assume.
@Joe Kennedy: you’d have been better off saying nothing Joe
Is that really the wisest move for a man who wore a scrum cap as a goalkeeper and has previously suffered a fractured skull??
@Simon Ryan: that’s what separates you and him Simon. He’s a professional competitor and you’re commenting on the journal.
@Robbie O’ Connor: There will he a coffin separating them if he gets a blow to the head
@Robbie O’ Connor: you should have said “and we’re commenting on the journal”
Ye, didn’t see that one coming….
Why hasn’t the reporter asked if he wears the scrum cap under his ice hockey helmet? These are the questions the public need answered!
@RabidHorizon: like if superman wears a second pair of underwear, but this time actually under his pants.
Least he’ll have a better defence in front of him compared to his last season at Arsenal
Not quite NHL standard but good to see some ice hockey on the 42!