Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo to miss Punchestown with bruised foot

Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo is out of the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday after bruising his foot on Monday.

Minella Indo led home a 1-2 for Henry de Bromhead at Cheltenham, scoring by a length and a quarter from A Plus Tard, and was 13-8 favourite with the sponsors to follow up at Punchestown, but he will not be turning up there after a late setback.

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De Bromhead told the Racing Post: "Minella Indo has a bruised foot and is just a bit sore so we're not going to run on Wednesday. He's finished for the season now and he'll go on his holidays. He's won a Gold Cup for us and he's had a brilliant year.

"It's disappointing that he won't get to run at Punchestown, but fortunately it's nothing serious and we're pretty sure it is nothing more than just a bruised foot so he will back raring to go next season."

Minella Indo: Punchestown absence is likely to see Al Boum Photo assume favouritismCredit: Edward Whitaker

The absence of Minella Indo, who was due to be ridden by Jack Kennedy, is likely to see Al Boum Photo assume favouritism. He chased home Kemboy in the race in 2019 in what proved to be Ruby Walsh's final ride.

Clan Des Obeaux represents Paul Nicholls. The last British-trained winner of the race was Planet Of Sound for Phillip Hobbs back in 2010, but Nicholls has won the race twice with Neptune Collonges.

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