Edward O'Grady: trainer's festival string depleted by absence of juvenile

  Picture: Caroline Norris  

Lame Capellanus ruled out of Fred Winter

CAPELLANUS, one of the leading fancies for the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle on the Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival, has been ruled out of the race after he was found to be lame.

Paddy Wilmott, who owns the Edward O'Grady-trained juvenile, said on Friday: "He's lame and won't be running at Cheltenham unfortunately, but it's nothing serious and he should hopefully be back in a month to six weeks.

"He had a nice racing weight and we thought he had his chance but that's the way it goes."

Despite this blow, Wilmott could still have his colours carried by Jumbo Rio in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Pittoni in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the festival next week.