Royal Kahala takes a break after Festival injury
Royal Kahala shines in Galmoy Hurdle as Klassical Dream disappoints
Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle winner Royal Kahala will not be seen again this season after emerging from her Cheltenham Festival exertions with an injury.
The Peter Fahey-trained mare sustained the injury in the Paddy Powers Stayers' Hurdle, where despite being sent off at 11/2, she beat just two home.
The 143-rated seven-year-old had enjoyed a really competitive season up to that, point, winning both the Grade 3 Advent Surety Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown's Winter Festival in December and then going on to land the Galmoy at Gowran Park next time out.
That career-best effort put her firmly in the picture for her Prestbury Park date but, after things didn't go according to plan there, she will be given time to recover.
Her trainer isn't yet fully aware of the seriousness of her problem but is optimistic that she will be back in the none-too-distant future.
"She's out for the year, she got an injury at Cheltenham," he said.
"She was lame and is out for the season.
"We'll know in the next week or so how serious it is, it's fingers crossed at the moment."
The daughter of Flemensfirth is now 4-8 over timber and her best may still be to come. Certainly, with an injury-free run if back at Cheltenham next season, she'd have to be considered a contender for dual Stayers' winner Flooring Porter's crown.
