Grand Annual hopeful David’s Well has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival with an injury.
Chris Gordon‘s charge has been a revelation over fences this season. Having won just one of his five starts in hurdles and bumpers, he is unbeaten since going chasing.
Starting out with a handicap mark of 106, David’s Well has won all four starts over fences. Victories were claimed at Leicester and Chepstow last season before statement wins at Haydock and Cheltenham so far this campaign.
The seven-year-old had been among the leading fancies for the Grand Annual at the Festival. His progressive profile would have allured many punters into backing his unbeaten run continuing.
However, plans will now centre around the 2027 Cheltenham Festival due to a leg injury uncovered recently.
“We’ll be looking forward to next season” – Gordon
The news comes as a real blow to the Cheltenham hopes of a smaller yard.
Gordon has never trained a Cheltenham Festival winner, though has emerged on the big stage before. His Aucunrisque won the 2023 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.
However, David’s Well boasted a genuine chance of delivering a first Festival triumph. For now those hopes are dashed.
Gordon announced to the Press Association via Racing TV that: “He’s sadly out of the Grand Annual. He’s got a small crack to his femur behind so sadly that rules him out, but he’ll be as right as rain for next season and that’s the most important thing.
“It’s a hairline crack and it’s one of the least things you can do! That’s a real killer for us, as you can imagine.”
He remains a stable star for the future though. Time is on David’s Well’s side as a seven-year-old, with plenty more seasons left in his prime. Gordon was also quick to shower praise on this season’s star.
“He’s been smashing. He won his two chases last year and his two chases this year. We were really looking forward to it, he’s been in great order.
“He just went a little bit off last week and we just thought we must investigate what’s going on. We were just lucky we found a small crack there so that’s put paid to us but we’ll be looking forward to next season.”
As for any immediate plans, Gordon was coy on what could be next.
“We’ll take our time and see how we go. Obviously he’s a softer-ground horse and hopefully we’ll kick off in time for some nice races.”