Invictus expected to return strongly next season
Trainer, Alan King suffered a huge setback before the jumps season began in Great Britain, as one of his promising runners, Invictus, was ruled out for the entire season because of fitness issues.
After enjoying a prolific season, the son of Flemensfirth went out of action in February 2012. Last season’s Reynoldstown Chase winner was expected to participate in the last Cheltenham Festival, but the connections soon withdrew his name.
The maverick runner picked up an injury while getting prepared for the RSA chase, and even though he makes steady recovery, it is not possible for him to make any outing this season.
Quoted on his website, King said some weeks ago: "Invictus picked up an injury when being prepared for the RSA Chase at the last Cheltenham Festival, and, though he is making steady progress, he will be out for the whole of this jumps season."
Not only one, Alan King suffered a couple of massive blows. Alongside Invictus, another rising stable star, Batonnier, was ruled out for the whole season, after the 6-year-old got injured during the practice session in the lead up to the Neptune Investment
Management Novices' Hurdle.
King added: "They are two of the stable's big guns so it is disappointing but these are the hazards of NH racing and the good thing is that both horses will still only be seven when they return."
Invictus and Batonnier, both performed magnificently last season. The former of the two, in particular, was quite impressive. He made his previous seasonal comeback on a winning note, when crushing the opposition by 11 lengths at Hereford.
He registered another comprehensive victory last year, before going to Cheltenham for the Grade 2, Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase (Registered As Dipper Novices' Steeple Chase) on the first of 2012.
Owned by Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin Hughes, the bay gelding collected great admiration by sharing the podium in the big battle. He was last seen at Royal Ascot, where he took the first place in the Grade 2, Sodexo Prestige Reynoldstown Novices' Chase.
Invictus is a class act. The J. O'Connell-bred is expected to quickly recover from the injury, and return with a huge bang next season. All his fans are keenly waiting for his comeback.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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