Champion Hurdle favourite Saldier sidelined until the new year

Saldier will not race again until the new year after failing to please Willie Mullins his victory in the Morgiana Hurdle which elevated him to Champion Hurdle favourtism.

The five-year-old sprang a surprise in the Morgiana last month, beating stablemate Klassical Dream and Petit Mouchoir, and had been pencilled in for the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Speaking on Monday, Mullins said: "Saldier didn't come out of his Morgiana win as well as I'd hoped. I'm not 100 per cent happy with him so we decided not to enter him for the Matheson Hurdle on December 29. Hopefully he will be back in action early in the new year."

Saldier's victory in the Morgiana was his second top-level success and his first start since he shattered his nose in a fall at Naas last year.

Mullins has made three entries for the Matheson Hurdle, which takes place on the final day of the Christmas festival. Among those who could line up are last season's Supreme winner Klassical Dream, dual Grade 1 scorer Sharjah, and Aramon.

Nine others have been entered for the two-mile contest, including Petit Mouchoir and the unbeaten Honeysuckle, although connections of the latter said on Monday she was unlikely to run.

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