Neptune Collonges

Shropshire’s leading horse is facing the prospect of being out for a year.

The John Hales-owned Neptune Collonges was found to have a tendon injury by a vet yesterday.

The eight-year-old finished fourth in the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last Friday behind Kauto Star, Denman and Exotic Dancer.

But he will now miss an attempt to win a third Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup next month and is already a major doubt for a return to Cheltenham in 2010.

The injury is thought to be a replica of the one which forced Ryanair Chase ante-post favourite Noland, also owned by Cosford businessman Hales, to miss the Festival.

“It looks like Neptune has got a 12-month holiday,” said Lisa Hales, daughter of John.

“The vet went down to do a check on Noland yesterday and the staff at Paul Nicholls’ yard asked him to check Neptune as he hadn’t been quite right.

“The fears are that it is a hole in the tendon and, if that’s the case, it will be 12 months out.

“We are all devastated, particularly dad. We were really looking forward to going to Ireland again.

“For me, he is the third best chaser in the county and without Denman and Kauto Star in the field, he would have gone trying to win a third successive Punchestown Gold Cup with a real favourite’s chance.”

Hales admitted Neptune Collonges had come up against top-class opposition in last week’s blue riband event.

“We thought it was a bit slow on the first circuit and the only way we were going to win was to have the race more stretched out, but I don’t think there was a way we could have beaten the winner,” she added.

“Kauto was exceptional and Denman was brilliant. But again, Neptune wore his heart on his sleeve – and that’s all you can ask.”