12 January 2024 , 14:06
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One of Willie Mullins' top prospects for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival has suffered a setback.
It's For Me, 8-1 with William Hill for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, encountered the hold-up over Christmas.
Prestbury Park's most successful trainer in the history of its feature week had to cancel upcoming plans for his leading light.
It's For Me had stormed into contention for the Festival opener with an authoritative Punchestown win over Caldwell Potter, trained by Mullins' big rival Gordon Elliott. The runner-up franked the form by taking the Grade One Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 27.
While he has progressed, It's For Me has gone in the other direction and failed to appear in the entries for important meetings, including the Dublin Racing Festival in February.
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Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "It's For Me unfortunately had a setback over Christmas. Willie is seeing if he can get him straight to Cheltenham now."
Mullins has been crowned top trainer at the four-day event for the past five years – with ten titles amassed in his time at Closutton. In 2023, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs helped him close in on a century of winners, with just six to go.
It's For Me finished fifth in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, a race which has produced multiple winners this season.
On Friday, Mullins, Munir and Souede received a boost via surprise Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle scorer Readin Tommy Wrong. Daryl Jacob was on board as the 16-1 shot battled for a neck victory over stable first string Ile Atlantique (6-4f).