RACING/News Round-up: Bannow Bay will miss out on another clash with Limestone Lad at Punchestown next week after picking up an injury.
The Christy Roche-trained star will not race again this season but is expected to make a full recovery for next term.
"He hurt himself behind and he is out for the season," Roche explained yesterday. "It is disappointing but it's a long way from a major problem." Bannow Bay had been earmarked for Thursday's Kevin McManus Champion Stayers Hurdle which is also the intended target for his old rival Limestone Lad.
The pair met last Christmas when Bannow Bay won out in a thriller. His absence will be a major blow to jockey Charlie Swan but he still figures prominently in Ladbrokes betting as to who will win the most races over the four-day festival next week.
Paul Carberry and Ruby Walsh are 5 to 2 joint favourites with Norman Williamson on 4 to 1. They also bet: 5/1 Charlie Swan, 7/1 Barry Geraghty, 8/1 Tony McCoy, 14 David Casey and Conor O'Dwyer, 20/1 Philip Fenton, 25/1 Bar.
The ground at Punchestown was yesterday described as "yielding" after 22mms of overnight rain hit the track. "It was very welcome. The outlook looks good for next week and hopefully we will get some good weather, " said Punchestown chief executive Charlie Murless yesterday.
