WILLIE MULLINS ‘immediately’ ruled one of his superstar horses out of Cheltenham Festival after another shock defeat.
Punters said it was ‘sad to see’ former Arkle winner El Fabiolo get turned over by 50-1 outsider Senecia in a Grade 2 chase at Navan on Saturday.
El Fabiolo looked a world-beater as a novice but this season has been a disaster and now he won’t be going to CheltenhamSportsfile
El Fabiolo looked to have the world at his feet after smashing Jonbon in the 2023 Grade 1 novice chase at the Festival.
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But he was pulled up in last year’s Champion Chase having been sent off 2-9 then lost his rematch with Jonbon at Sandown.
El Fabiolo fell when going down at the second fence of last month’s Dublin Chase but was backed off the boards to return to winning ways yesterday.
And although he put in a more encouraging round of jumping he still couldn’t win at 4-11.
Mullins said afterwards there was no chance he was going to the Festival on the back of that despite entries in the Champion Chase and Ryanair.
The Closutton trainer said: “He was very free and he will improve for that.
“He wants nicer ground and we’ll look at Aintree for him.
“He’s not going to Cheltenham.”
At this stage it means 11-year-old Energumene – owned by Tony Bloom – could be one of Mullins’ best hopes in the Champion Chase.
The veteran is a best-price 15-2 ahead of stablemate Gaelic Warrior.
But last year’s Arkle winner’s odds on the Betfair Exchange have fluctuated massively in recent days.
And he definitely wasn’t at his best in two runs at Leopardstown this year.
Gaelic Warrior also has an entry in the Ryanair, where Mullins’ Fact To File leads the market.
But that race looks like being red-hot with the likes of Il Est Francais and defending champ Protektorat due to line up.
El Fabiolo being out of Cheltenham is another blow to Mullins, who recently said big Turners Novices’ Hurdle chance Kawaboomga was out for the season.
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