Lucy Thompson, winner of the Punchestown national title 12 months ago with her own horse, Gold Dust, has withdrawn her European gold medal mare Welton Romance from this year's IFG sponsored event on veterinary advice.
The 12-year-old mare, a half-sister to Welton Molecule, which Thompson rode to an impressive eighth place in Badminton at the weekend, was pulled out prior to the start of the cross country last Saturday after team vet Hugh Suffern discovered that Romance was suffering from a severely swollen right ovary.
Further examination yesterday by Newmarket fertility expert Twink Allen and a scan showed no sign of an ovarian cyst, and it is hoped that the mare will be back in work within a week. But Thompson was advised that bringing her over from England to Punchestown was not advisable.
Holland's Eddy Stibbe, who had two runners entered for Punchestown, has also withdrawn following his fall at Badminton with Bahlua. The Dutchman, who was due to follow Welton Romance across country, fell at the second Luckington Lane crossing, and broke a bone in his neck and in a hand. Stibbe was scheduled to have further scans yesterday to assess the damage to his neck.
The Punchestown international gets underway at the refurbished Co Kildare racetrack on Thursday when riders from 12 nations will be bidding for the honours.
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