Feathard Lady, the unbeaten mare who burst on to the Champion Hurdle picture with a brilliant success at Sandown over Christmas, will miss the AIG Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown at the end of the month.
The Colm Murphy-trained horse has sprained an off-hind fetlock joint which rules her out of the AIG. But hopes remain high she can still make it to the Cheltenham festival.
"It's just going to take a little time but the AIG is definitely out. We're hoping she won't miss too much and I would be hopeful about Cheltenham. If it was Brave Inca it would be season over. But this mare takes almost no work," said Murphy last night.
"We've had the vet in and had x-rays done and they look to be all fine. It just looks like she will need a little time," he added. "She did a canter yesterday morning and everything seemed fine. But when she pulled out of her box this morning she was lame."
Cashmans had opened ante-post betting on the AIG earlier in the day and Feathard Lady was initially made a 7 to 4 joint favourite with her stable companion Brave Inca who remains on course for the Leopardstown highlight on January 29th.
"He is in grand order. There isn't a bother on him," confirmed Murphy.
Cashmans later revised their AIG list and Brave Inca is now an even-money favourite with the double Champion winner Hardy Eustace next best on 7 to 4.
Feathard Lady had been favourite in some ante-post lists for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle itself but she drifted in the Cheltenham markets and is now a 4 to 1 co-favourite for the big race in March with Coral. She won at Grade One level on her first attempt when an easy 12-length winner of the Christmas Hurdle at Sandown on St Stephen's Day under Ruby Walsh.
In other news yesterday, the Turf Club announced that its new appeals system will come into operation on February 1st.
The names of the people who will serve in the new system will be announced at a later date but racing's regulatory body did say that hearings where the majority of the evidence is on video will be open to the media.
"This further enhances the transparency of the appeals procedure," said Turf Club senior steward Pierce Molony.
Some details of the system were revealed yesterday. A chairman and a deputy chairman, each either a retired judge or a retired or a practising barrister or solicitor with at least 15 years of experience, will be appointed. Neither can have been a member of the Turf Club or the INHS committee. There will also be two vice-chairmen and six ordinary members of the appeals panel, who cannot be currently serving as stewards.
The appeals body shall have two divisions, each comprised of three members. The first division will be presided over by either the chairman or deputy chairman while the second will be presided over by a vice-chairmen.
A person making an appeal will be allowed express a view as to which division they would rather have their case dealt with in.
AIG IRISH CHAMPION HURDLE BETTING
Cashmans: Evs Brave Inca, 7-4 Hardy Eustace, 7 Golden Cross & Macs Joy, 20 Royal Shakespeare & The French Furze, 66 Bar.
