Leading Mares' Novices' contender Allegorie De Vassy out for the season

Allegorie De Vassy, a leading contender for the Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle, will miss the Cheltenham Festival and the remainder of the jumps season after trainer Willie Mullins confirmed she has suffered a setback.

The Susannah Ricci-owned five-year-old had been as short as 3-1 for the Grade 2 having made an unbeaten start over hurdles in Ireland, including when a three and a half-length winner of the Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in January.

However, despite being reported to be on course for the race over the weekend, she has been ruled out of the festival after subsequent scans revealed she has suffered a hock injury.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle: entries and betting

Mullins said: "Allegorie De Vassy has got a slab fracture in her hock and will miss the rest of this season, unfortunately."

Mullins could still dominate the 2m1f contest on day three of the festival with Brandy Love, who finished second to Allegorie De Vassy at Fairyhouse, the general 5-2 favourite.

He could also be represented by 15-length Clonmel maiden hurdle winner Dinoblue and Grangee as he seeks to regain his stranglehold on the race with a sixth win in its seven-year history, after Telmesomethinggirl triumphed last year for Henry de Bromhead under Rachael Blackmore.

Allegorie De Vassy had been a notable drifter and hit 18 on the Betfair Exchange on Friday before her price went back in, prompting suggestions that she was already set to miss Cheltenham, but Ricci's racing manager Joe Chambers told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast it was not until Tuesday that she had been ruled out.

Chambers said: "We had taken a number of x-rays over the weekend which were all negative, however she was still not fully sound.

"I do know that drift corrected itself very quickly on Friday. We were anticipating it was all systems go for Cheltenham, but it wasn't until yesterday afternoon until she went for a scintigraphy scan that we were able to identify the cause of the issue."

Mares' Novices' Hurdle

bet365: 5-2 Brandy Love, 3 Dinoblue, 6 Elle Est Belle, Party Central, 13-2 Grangee, 8 Impervious, 14 bar

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