Early Cheltenham clue? Gypsy Island 20-1 for 2022 festival after comeback win

Gypsy Island defied an absence of 736 days to land the opening mares' maiden hurdle to get her career back on track.

The seven-year-old spent the first half of last season as ante-post favourite for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but failed to make an appearance and missed the entire campaign.

She is now 20-1 with Paddy Power to win the 2022 Mares' Novice Hurdle following a hard-earned win over Annie G.

Gypsy Island was last seen winning a Grade 3 mares' bumper at the Punchestown festival way back in May 2019, but made it second time lucky over hurdles in workmanlike fashion under Mark Walsh. Her previous try over hurdles was at Navan in November 2018 where she was beaten by none other than this year's Champion Chase heroine, Put The Kettle On.

Winning trainer Peter Fahey said: "I have to admit I was a bit anxious beforehand and I am absolutely thrilled she's gone out there and got the job done.

"When she jumped the second-last I thought she wasn't going to win, but I would have still been happy as she was running a big race. She was very quick over the last and I thought she actually won snug enough in the end."

Peter Fahey greets Gypsy Island after winning at TipperaryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Fahey is convinced there is a lot more to come the JP McManus-owned mare. He added: "She had a good blow afterwards and will come on an awful lot more for that.

"It's been a long road back and fair play to all the vets who looked after her and everyone at Martinstown. It took us a good while to get her action back and to get her moving right, so it's lovely to see her back on a racecourse and winning again."

Sent off the 1-5 favourite, Gypsy Island looked in a spot of bother coming down to the last but Annie G made a mistake and it opened the door for Walsh to sweep by. Indeed, it was quite comfortable in the end.

Asked what the plan for the exciting mare was now, Fahey replied: "We'll see how she is in the morning and how she comes out of this before we plan anything."

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