Injury sidelines County Hurdle hope Fortune De Mer

Fortune De Mer, ante-post favourite for the County Hurdle, will miss the rest of the season due to a tendon injury.

The six-year-old was a cosy winner at Cheltenham last time out but trainer Dan Skelton reported on Thursday that the gelding is facing a likely 12-month spell off the track.

In a video posted on X, he said: “We’ve had a small injury with Fortune De Mer which means we’re unfortunately going to have to miss the rest of the year.

“He’s got a tendon strain which is a 20 per cent lesion, which is highly unfortunate. It’s just how it is sometimes with horses.

“We’ll give him the treatment he needs and he will be back next season. We’ll probably start him back in October time, which should mean he’ll be back in around next Christmas.

“It’s highly frustrating and very unfortunate for Stephen Bough (owner) and his family because he’s developed a following this horse as he’s such a cheeky character.

“Unfortunately we’re not going to see him for a little while but hopefully he can come back, history says they can recover well from these injuries, so fingers crossed he’s one of those.”