RACING: Sackville looks certain to miss next week's IAWS Thyestes Chase after a mishap over the Gowran Park fences yesterday.
In company with stable companions Moscow Express and Cloudland, Sackville had worked over two circuts of the track and was then asked to jump two fences in the straight.
He and Moscow Express approached the first, but Sackville jumped it untidily and unseated his rider. Afterwards he was found to have badly cut a front leg.
Sackville, already winner of the Tommy Whittle at Haydock this season, had the Thyestes next Thursday and the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham the following weekend as options for his next outing. The injury throws his Gold Cup challenge into doubt.
"The good thing is that it is not a tendon and he will just need a few stitches. It was an over-reach but we might have to stop with him for a little while.
"It's typical. It always happens when everyone is around. I wouldn't mind but you would have thought it would have happened to Moscow Express," said trainer Frances Crowley.
Other horses to work at the Co Kilkenny track yesterday were the James Bowe-trained pair Limestone and Solerina, as well as Willie Mullins's Champion Hurdle hope Davenport Milenium.
The latter did one circuit with stable companions Alexander Milenium and Killultagh Storm and now looks likely to go next in the AIG Champion Hurdle on Sunday week.
"The owner is keen to go for the AIG and the horse has come out of his race at Kempton well. Unless something untoward happens, he will run in the AIG," Mullins said.
The Carlow trainer also said that Florida Pearl is now likely to run in Ascot's Ritz Club Chase on February 15th after the news that the star chaser will miss an intended race this weekend.
"He scoped badly and will be on the easy list for 10 days. He will probably go for the Ritz next. I haven't ruled out the Hennessy but that is often a very hard race so near to Cheltenham. Jodami won it one year and also won the Gold Cup, but apart from that winners don't have a great Gold Cup record.
"The Gold Cup remains the more likely Cheltenham option but it would have been nice to run him over a shorter trip at the weekend, just to see how he would do. But it wasn't to be," Mullins said.
Limestone Lad was another to work two circuts in company with the novice Florida Coast. In behind Solerina did a circuit and a half. Both are among the 20 entries for the AIG, but both have other options.
Solerina has a novice engagement on Sunday week while Limestone Lad is entered for the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle on Saturday week.
"Limestone Lad is as strong as a bull this year and I'm happier with him than I've ever been. The temptation is there to give him a shot at AIG.
"Last year I was kicking myself for not running him in it when the ground conditions were right," said Michael Bowe, who rode Limestone Lad yesterday.
"People ask 'what's your secret' with this horse and it makes me laugh.
"There is no secret. The only secret is to get good horses," he added.
The work session took place against the backdrop of the new €3.5 million grandstand which was unveiled to the media yesterday.
The 44,000 square feet development completes the €6.5 million redevelopment of Gowran and will be used for the first time on Thyestes day.
Phase one of the development in 2000 consisted of a new stable yard and parade ring, and a new golf course was finished last year.
Gowran will stage 15 fixtures in 2003, but the new facilities are hoped to make the track a viable concern throughout the year.
