Weapons Amnesty out for the year

Nulty

Sustained ligament damage and hasn't recovered properly - season off apparently.

Weapon's Amnesty set to miss Gold Cup - Byrnes

WEAPON'S AMNESTY, as short as 6-1 third favourite for the Totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham, is set to miss the race according to trainer Charles Byrnes.

The seven-year-old defeated Burton Port by seven lengths in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at last season's festival to earn quotes of just 6-1 from Ladbrokes and Stan James for the 2011 Gold Cup, but having failed to come out of that race in good shape, Byrnes and owner Michael O'Leary have given him the season off.

"He sustained a ligament injury at Cheltenham and hasn't made the recovery we'd hoped for," said Byrnes on Sunday, "so we have decided to give him the year off."

Weapon's Amnesty's impressive win in the RSA Chase was his second over fences from six starts. He also finished second in the Grade 1 Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown.

Weapon's Amnesty was also successful at the Cheltenham Festival in 2009, when he got the better of Pride Of Dulcote by half a length in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival-injured-weapons-amnesty-set-to-miss-gold-cup-byrnes/722910/top/

Did anyone lose their mind when watching him win at Cheltenham and have an ante-post bet on him? Come on - own up if you did :P

That being said, it's a long way until Christmas when he might get somesort of a run

LutherBlissett

I didn't have a bet on the RSA, but it was a stunning victory. He would have been high on my Gold Cup shortlist for next year. He seems an excellent jumper and gutsy into the bargain. It's so disappointing to see he won't make Cheltenham. Lets hope the old adage "they never come back" doesn't apply to him (although it has to many recent notables in jump racing - Denman, Best Mate, Taranis etc).

Nulty

It is a shame that he'll likely miss it.

One thing I noticed about his pedigree is that he's by Presenting out of an Old Vic mare. I haven't seen too many of them but in jumping terms it looks very good.

"Excellent jumper and gutsy" is what your likely to see from breeding like that. Must keep my eyes peeled for more breeding between the two lines

Colonel Sanders

The casualties are starting early this year unfortunately

Great performance in the RSA, real shame

UrbanSea

Although he ran a nice race,I wasn't convinced he'd be good enough for a Gold Cup

deewhy

RSA Brutal Race - takes too much out of these Novice's. Going back to 1990 only two horses have gone on to win the Gold Cup - Looks Like Trouble and Denman. Breaks more horses than creates champions.

Morgans

And Garrison Savannah who won in 1990.

Mr. Mulligan was beaten in it.

I dont think there is any guarantee that had Weapon's Amnesty ran in the Arkle, that the injury wouldnt have been sustained. Its the bad luck that can and does happen jumpers.

Most of the Sun Alliance Chase winners simply werent good enough to win a Gold Cup.

mdwexford

He will be back for it, fair play for keeping the public informed but to totally rule him out now is silly, he has 7-8 months to recover and still have a race or two to get ready. Who knows how quickly the horse will heal.

Id defo gamble and take some of the 50s on Betfair.

deewhy

mdwexford wrote: »

He will be back for it, fair play for keeping the public informed but to totally rule him out now is silly, he has 7-8 months to recover and still have a race or two to get ready. Who knows how quickly the horse will heal.

Id defo gamble and take some of the 50s on Betfair.

Interesting point given who the trainer is!!

convert

mdwexford wrote: »

he has 7-8 months to recover and still have a race or two to get ready. Who knows how quickly the horse will heal.

Depending on the severity of the injury, 7 or 8 months for a tendon injury is quite a short time to recover. If it's severe, the horse could be out for up to 18 or 24 months, if they race again at all. If it's not overly severe, then a year is a 'normal' enough period to give the horse to recover. If he was my horse and he was that good, I wouldn't rush him just for the sake of one race at Cheltenham 2011.

However, none of us have seen the horse or the scans of his leg, or spoken to the vet/trainer/owner, so it's really impossible to discuss the situation with certainty and authority.

Nulty

deewhy wrote: »

Interesting point given who the trainer is!!

He wasn't pulling a fast one with Solwhit at Chetenham and he's got no record of feigning injury to a horse as far as I know.

convert wrote: »

Depending on the severity of the injury, 7 or 8 months for a tendon injury is quite a short time to recover. If it's severe, the horse could be out for up to 18 or 24 months, if they race again at all. If it's not overly severe, then a year is a 'normal' enough period to give the horse to recover. If he was my horse and he was that good, I wouldn't rush him just for the sake of one race at Cheltenham 2011.

However, none of us have seen the horse or the scans of his leg, or spoken to the vet/trainer/owner, so it's really impossible to discuss the situation with certainty and authority.

good contribution...appreciate some horsey knowledge

mdwexford

convert wrote: »

Depending on the severity of the injury, 7 or 8 months for a tendon injury is quite a short time to recover. If it's severe, the horse could be out for up to 18 or 24 months, if they race again at all. If it's not overly severe, then a year is a 'normal' enough period to give the horse to recover. If he was my horse and he was that good, I wouldn't rush him just for the sake of one race at Cheltenham 2011.

However, none of us have seen the horse or the scans of his leg, or spoken to the vet/trainer/owner, so it's really impossible to discuss the situation with certainty and authority.

Indeed we dont, given the time involved and the price i think its a decent gamble though.