Injury blow as Celestial Wave misses Cheltenham
Adrian Maguire's stable star Celestial Wave will miss the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on Thursday week.
The mare who was seeking a four-timer after battling to a Graded-race hat-trick when scoring in bottomless ground at Gowran Park in January, was found to be cast in her box on Tuesday morning.
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With the prospect of a soft-ground Cheltenham Festival increasing with every millimetre of rain hitting the Gloucestershire turf, Maguire was hopeful that she would play a major role next week.
But Celestial Wave, who was as short as 6-1 with Ladbrokes for the World Hurdle, is unlikley to be seen again this season.
Maguire, who would have been saddling his first Cheltenham Festival runner since he joined the training ranks, told Sportsmail Online: "It's unfortunate. She was cast in her box this morning and has pulled muscles in her back.
"We could possibly get her back for Punchestown, but by then the ground may have gone for her."
Meanwhile, Labelthou is to take on the crack stayers in the World Hurdle.
Connections of the in-form mare, who also holds an entry in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle and the Coral Cup, decided to go for glory because of the prospect of soft ground.
"I had a good chat with the owners this morning and I think we are going to aim her at the World Hurdle," said trainer Emma Lavelle.
"We mulled it over and overall I think more horses are probably going to be inconvenienced by the soft/heavy ground in that sort of race than maybe in the novice.
"She is very well and the plan will be to have a go at the World Hurdle. The field will be a bit smaller.
"She seems in good form so we may as well have a crack at it."
The French-bred eight-year-old has won four of her last five starts culminating in the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in testing conditions.
Labelthou has attracted plenty of support in the World Hurdle in the last couple of days and is 12-1 with the sponsors.
Ladbrokes Wolrd Hurdle - Coral bet: 5-2 Black Jack Ketchum, 3-1 Inglis Drever, 9-2 Mighty Man, 11-2 Blazing Bailey, 9-1 Kasbah Bliss, 12-1 Labelthou, 14-1 Flight Leader, Temoin, 16-1 Lough Derg, United, 20-1 Lord Sam, Millenium Royal, Overstrand, 33-1
