CHELTENHAM NEWS

 17 February 2021 12:59 Benie Des Dieux to miss Cheltenham Festival

Trainer Willie Mullins has confirmed that Benie Des Dieux will not run at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The 10-year-old was a winner of the Mares’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in 2018 and she had appeared to be on course to defend that crown 12 months later until she fell at the final flight.

A victory in the 2019 French Champion Hurdle meant that Benie Des Dieux was once again the favourite to win last year’s Mares’ Hurdle, but she was pipped into second place by Honeysuckle and has not raced competitively since.

Indeed, Mullins confirmed earlier this season that Benie Des Dieux was not likely to make her reappearance until the Festival, where she was expected to have another tilt at the Mares’ Hurdle or a run in the inaugural Mares’ Chase.

However, he has now revealed that she will not be ready for the meeting, much to his disappointment.

“Benie Des Dieux hasn’t been pleasing me in our quest to get her to Cheltenham and regrettably we have had to make the decision to withdraw her from the Festival,” Mullins announced in a statement on his website.

“I’ll try to get her to make Punchestown, but we’ll have to see how things go.

“It’s very disappointing for everyone as we thought she would make it to Cheltenham, but unfortunately time just ran out.”

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