'It's being sensible' - Henry Daly rules out exciting Hillcrest for the season

Friday: Uttoxeter

Henry Daly's exciting Hillcrest has been ruled out for the season, the Shropshire trainer announced at Uttoxeter on Friday.

He was at the course to watch his sole runner on the card Bretney – who was out of luck in the 3m handicap chase – but also had some disappointing news to reveal.

The seven-year-old was a Grade 2-winning novice hurdler last season but his long-awaited chasing debut will be delayed as connections allow him plenty of time to recover from a leg injury.

"He had a bit of heat in one leg and that was it," said Daly. "I rang Mick Meagher and we talked about it to discuss what we were or weren't going to do.

"We just thought if we stop now, it'll give us the opportunity to bounce back in 2023-24, as opposed to trying to nurse him through this season.

"He's a huge horse and we just thought, 'When you're that big, you're better just to stop and give him time'. It's not a matter of being extra careful, it's being sensible."

Hillcrest on his way to Grade 2 success at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Hillcrest was prominent in several Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets, including 16-1 quotes for the National Hunt Chase and Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.

Although the injury is not severe, Daly is more than happy to be patient and do right by his horse.

"It's one of those things," he added. "It wasn't very bad and was the proverbial 'a bit of a leg', but you cannot have 'a bit of a leg'.

"We just took the view that it would only get worse if we carried on now and it would be far better to stop and give him the time."

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