Tag Archive for: Allaho

Allaho to miss Cheltenham due to abdominal bleed

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Dual Ryanair Chase hero Allaho will not bid for a hat-trick at next month’s Cheltenham Festival after suffering an abdominal bleed.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Ryanair in 2021 under Rachael Blackmore and successfully defended his crown with a sublime front-running performance last season in the hands of Paul Townend.

He stepped up to three miles to win the Punchestown Gold Cup the following month, but has not been seen in competitive action since, with an autumn setback ruling out a possible tilt at the King George VI Chase at Kempton Boxing Day.

Hopes were high that Allaho would return to action at the Festival – but Chris Richardson, managing director for owners Cheveley Park Stud, has confirmed he will miss the showpiece meeting after suffering a further setback.

A statement issued to PA Media read: “Having worked pleasingly this past Saturday, Allaho was found to be uncomfortable after working and was then taken to the Fethard Equine Hospital, where he was found to have suffered some sort of abdominal bleed.

“Although a very rare condition, this was obviously of great concern. However, following treatment his condition appears to have stabilised.

“According to Willie Mullins this morning, Allaho is bright and comfortable with a normal heart rate, so obviously this is most encouraging, but we have to play things day by day.”

Mullins hoping Cheltenham experience can aid State’s case

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Willie Mullins insists track experience will help as State Man heads for a mouth-watering Champion Hurdle clash with “freak” Constitution Hill.

State Man landed the County Hurdle at the Prestbury Park track last March and has subsequently won four consecutive top-class races.

Following Sunday’s defeat of Honeysuckle in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle, the six-year-old Doctor Dino gelding was cut to a general 11-4 second favourite behind Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Constitution Hill for the March 14 showpiece.

“Horses for courses is the old saying and State Man has won around the track, which is huge in our preparation,” said Mullins.

“We’re looking forward to it and I’m sure they’re looking forward to it.

“There’s other horses in the race as well, but at the moment State Man looks to be the leading Irish contender and Constitution Hill looks to be the English one.

“Constitution Hill could be a bit of a freak and maybe we’re going to be unlucky to come against a horse like that, but it’s all there to play for at the moment.

“Fingers crossed, we all get there and we get to compete.”

Allaho, a brilliant winner of the last two renewals of the Ryanair Chase, has not run since taking the Punchestown Gold Cup in April but Mullins is happy with his condition at present.

Allaho at Willie Mullins yard on Monday
Allaho at Willie Mullins yard on Monday (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

The nine-year-old had been expected to feature in both the Clonmel Oil Chase in November and the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but met with what his owners, Cheveley Park Stud, described as “a couple of niggles”.

However, Mullins, speaking at a media morning at his Bagenalstown-based stables on Monday, revealed he is nearing a return to fitness and said: “I’m very happy with Allaho. He’s doing some fast work.”

The imposing Monkfish, who had been vying for 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup favouritism when suffering a tendon injury that has ruled him out of action since finishing runner-up in a Punchestown Grade One in April 2021, is also on the comeback trail.

Monkfish is on the comeback trail
Monkfish is on the comeback trail (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Mullins added: “Monkfish is just a little bit behind him, but at the moment they’re both going well, and Klassical Dream is another one that comes back into the picture.

“It’s going to be touch and go whether they make it, but certainly I’m much happier with Allaho than any of the others.

“I think he’s a specialist Ryanair chaser. A lot of people want to see him in a Gold Cup, but I’d be more worried about him going three and a quarter miles than I would about Galopin Des Champs.

“Allaho is so spectacular over the Ryanair trip. I think he could go back to two miles if you wanted to, but with his style of racing, it might break his heart if he got beaten and we don’t want to do that.”

Thompson would have no qualms with A Plus Tard heading straight to Cheltenham

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Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson insists he would be “very comfortable” if A Plus Tard were to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown without the aid of another run.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge was a brilliant winner of the Prestbury Park blue riband last season, but little has gone right for him since.

The nine-year-old was found to be under the weather after being pulled up when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and was withdrawn on the morning of last month’s Savills Chase at Leopardstown after he was found to have knocked a joint.

“We flew over for the Savills Chase and it was hard to take in the moment, but you’ve got to do right by the horse and there was obviously no way we were willing to risk him,” said Thompson.

“His season has been a bit flat so far, but we very much hope he’s back on course for Cheltenham.”

A return to Leopardstown for next month’s Irish Gold Cup is a possibility – but while a final decision will rest with De Bromhead, Thompson is favouring heading straight to the Cotswolds in March.

He added: “I don’t think it was a serious problem at all really, that was the word I got, so we’ll see where he is. He might run in the Irish Gold Cup, but that’s 50-50 I think.

“I’d probably rather on balance go straight to Cheltenham, but I’ll leave it to Henry. If he thinks he should get another run into him, then of course it’s his decision.

“I’d be very comfortable not having a run before Cheltenham, that would be my personal view for what it’s worth.”

Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock
Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock (Simon Marper/PA)

It has been a largely disappointing campaign for Cheveley Park so far, with dual Ryanair Chase winner Allaho and Sir Gerhard both failing to make it the track to date.

Thompson, however, is philosophical, saying: “Last year we won nine Grade Ones, including three at Cheltenham and the Gold Cup. It was never going to last that type of success – it’s impossible.”

A Plus Tard’s stablemate Envoi Allen provided the team with another top-level success in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal in October, but subsequently finished last in the King George at Kempton.

While plans for the nine-year-old are fluid, Thompson raised the possibility of sidestepping in Cheltenham in favour of a spring appearance at Aintree.

He said: “He made a mistake and nearly unseated Rachael (Blackmore) early on in the King George and never got into the race.

“The ground was tacky and he came back tired and a bit stiff. There was never a time when you thought he had a chance of being in the shake-up, that was the disappointing thing.

“He beat Conflated and Kemboy at Down Royal, who were first and second in the Savills Chase.

“We might even miss Cheltenham with him – we could go to Aintree instead. We could run him before Cheltenham. The Irish Gold Cup is an option for him as well, of course.”

Allaho and Paul Townend winning a second Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham
Allaho and Paul Townend winning a second Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

Thompson went on to provide an update on Allaho’s well being, with hopes high that he will be fit enough to bid for a third Ryanair Chase in little over nine weeks’ time.

“I think he’s in good shape and I think Willie (Mullins) is looking to go straight to Cheltenham with him. At the moment that’s the plan,” Thompson added.

“He’s very much on course to go to Cheltenham. If he can go there having a chance of winning the Ryanair for a third time, that would be a hell of an achievement.”