25 January 2024 , 18:35
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Willie Mullins' Cheltenham Festival team has lost one of its top performers after Allaho was ruled out by injury.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned jumper had won the Ryanair Chase two years in succession in 2021 and 2021. He missed the whole of last season due to a setback but there were high hopes he could make the trip in 2024 after returning to action this season.
He won the Clonmel Oil Chase by nine lengths in November after 19 months off and was narrowly beaten into third place as favourite for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Allaho showed he was none the worse for that experience by notching a third triumph in last week’s Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles.
That 13-length victory saw Allaho cement his place at the head of ante-post lists for this year's Ryanair Chase on March 14, but he will not be making the trip to Prestbury Park.
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Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park’s managing director, told the PA news agency: “Allaho was found to be lame after his race at Thurles and it’s been diagnosed as a strained hock, so he’s going to require several weeks rest and recuperation and therefore sadly misses Cheltenham.
“It’s very frustrating, as it was good to see him return to form the other day, but he wasn’t 100 per cent afterwards and we’re just going to have to give him the time, I’m afraid.” Allaho had been 5-2 favourite for the Ryanair but his withdrawal leaves Banbridge, who was 3-1, at the head of the market.