Willie Mullins, who enjoyed a wonderful 2024 Cheltenham Festival, has suffered a blow ahead of this year’s meeting with leading contender Kawaboomga ruled out through injury.
The five-year-old was among the favourites for the Turners’ Novices Hurdle on day two of the festival but will remain in Ireland and miss the rest of the season.
It is an early setback for Mullins, who was the most successful trainer 12 months ago with nine wins over the Gloucestershire course.
Kawaboomga is owned by JP McManus, whose racing manager Frank Berry said: “Unfortunately Kawaboomga has had a setback and will miss the rest of the season.
“He’s a grand, big horse and it’s disappointing, but hopefully all being well we’ll have him back for the autumn.”
Mullins and McManus have other horses in the race, though, and could yet emerge victorious.
The Mullins-trained Final Demand is the ante-post favourite with McManus having his colours on the highly fancied The New Lion.