Celestial Wave is out of this World

Cheltenham Festival update:Celestial Wave will not travel to next weeks' Cheltenham Festival to tackle the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after suffering a late setback. Adrian Maguire's improving mare had been quietly fancied to play a major role in the staying hurdlers' championship after landing her last three starts in Graded company.

"She's out of the World Hurdle as unfortunately she got cast in her box this morning and she's just lame behind," said Maguire.

"It's a bit of a blow for sure as we just fancied her, but it could have been worse."

At this early stage, Maguire is unsure how long the injury will take to heal. However, the Cork-based handler has not yet given up hope of his stable star landing a major prize this season.

"I honestly don't know how long she will miss after this but we could possibly be looking to Punchestown with her - we'll have to wait and see," he added.

Colm Murphy has confirmed Ruby Walsh will take the reins on Brave Inca when he attempts to defend his crown in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

Walsh had been set to partner Desert Quest for Paul Nicholls in the two-mile showpiece but the Ditcheat maestro has instead opted to aim for back-to-back Vincent O'Brien County Hurdles with his charge. With Brave Inca's regular partner Tony McCoy riding Straw Bear for retained owner JP McManus, the way was paved for Walsh to take over. "It's great to have him on board, especially after he was on him over Christmas at Leopardstown," explained Murphy.

"There were a lot of people in the firing line but I think it was always a case of getting either Tony or Ruby and it's great to have one of them on board.

"He worked yesterday up the grass and I was delighted with him. Ruby rode him and seemed happy enough and I was very happy with his work."

While Murphy would prefer the rains to stop falling at Prestbury Park, he is not too concerned as the prospect of a soft-ground festival continues to increase. "Ideally we would like a nice bit of good ground but unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen," he said. "But he's raced on heavy ground all year and I don't think it's going to inconvenience him too much.

"The calibre of the race is extraordinary and there's not that much between a lot of them and I think a little bit of luck in running will be worth an awful lot. You have to respect Detroit City as he's done absolutely nothing wrong and he's a bit of an unknown.

"Then there's Hardy Eustace who has won two Champion Hurdles and is an extraordinary horse and Macs Joy got within a length of us last year so it would be foolish to dismiss him as well."

Philip Hobbs has taken no chances with the health of Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City, who is stabled separately from the rest of his yard - despite sparkling in his last big work-out yesterday morning.

And along with Fair Along, Liberate and Boychuk, Detroit City has been kept in a box in a field away from the main North Somerset complex. This is to prevent the spread of coughing that affected some of the string earlier this year but seems largely over now.

"We put them in isolation two weeks ago," explained Hobbs. "It's not really something we have done before, although when you get coughing you normally try to keep the horses in areas where the others are healthy.

"It's impossible, though, really. You have staff and bits and pieces moving around and while you can try to keep things antiseptic, it is difficult. The coughing was at its worst in mid-January but I think we are nearly out of it and thankfully the main ones have not been affected."

Detroit City looked a picture of health having won all his three jumping starts this season.