Feathard Lady has taken the first steps on the road to recovery from injury, and the Colm Murphy-trained mare may yet have her first start of the season in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle next March.
Murphy reported yesterday that the mare is back walking again after the ligament injury to her near-fore leg a fortnight ago that has put a cloud over her entire campaign.
The Co Wexford trainer admitted he may have to rely on a vital pre-festival racecourse gallop to ensure Feathard Lady's readiness for a tilt at the title currently held by her stable companion Brave Inca.
However, Murphy was upbeat about the chances of his second star Grade One hurdler making the biggest day of all next spring.
"The good thing about it is that she doesn't need much work anyway so the plan is still to gear her towards Cheltenham," he said. "Hopefully she might have a run beforehand or else we might take her to a racecourse for a gallop. That's a bit up in the air but there will be time enough to worry about that.
"She is back walking now and the vets are hoping she will be able to get back to work around Christmas," he added.
Feathard Lady's route to the Champion Hurdle was blocked by a ligament problem last season after she had put up an exhilarating display to convincingly land the Christmas Hurdle at Sandown under Ruby Walsh.
However, Murphy had better news about his title-holding champion Brave Inca, who continues his build-up to a return to action in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. "He has been back in since the start of August. As usual he doesn't overdo it in his work but we're very happy with him," he said.
The flat races at Tramore this afternoon include a number of well-known jumping names and the front-running chaser Old Flame looks capable of showing some of his juniors a clean pair of heels in the mile-and-a-half maiden. Racing from the front suits the tight track, and going right-handed should also help Paul Nolan's horse, who can repel the likes of the 80-rated but frustrating three-year-old Dolce Dovo.
Florida Coast has been mixing it with some of the top staying hurdlers in recent years and looks to have the speed to cope with the mile-and-a-half claimer, while soft ground should be ideal for the Montjeu horse Mon Chevalier in the opening handicap.
