Trainer Dan Skelton has revealed Superb Story will miss next month’s Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival due to a tendon injury.
The six-year-old only secured his place at Prestbury Park with victory in the Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day, but his injury now means that success was his only outing of the season.
The bay gelding, who was victorious in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, is likely to be sidelined until the end of 2017, with Skelton admitting his charge needs time to recover.
Skelton tweeted: “Superb Story will not be running at Cheltenham. He’s got a small lesion in a tendon and will need time off. Possibly back in December.”
The Warwickshire handler does still have Ch’tibello entered in the Champion Hurdle although his participation is still uncertain following an underwhelming performance at Wincanton last weekend.
“In other Champion Hurdle news, Ch’tibello will have a soft palate cautery as we felt he didn’t get home as well as expected at the weekend,” Skelton added.
“He’s 50:50 for Cheltenham and if (he) swerves it, (he) will go straight to Punchestown. Didn’t make a noise at Wincanton but we had a look.”
Ch’tibello is currently available at 21.00 to win the Champion Hurdle, with the likes of Buveur D’Air and Yanworth expected to be the main challengers for the Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race.
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