Cheltenham Festival News: Kawaboomga Out for the Season Due to Injury

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The Cheltenham Festival has suffered a significant blow with the news that Kawaboomga, a leading contender for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Turners Novices' Hurdle, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a setback. The five-year-old gelding, trained by Willie Mullins, had been heavily backed for both races and was considered one of the top horses in the field. However, according to JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry, Kawaboomga has suffered an injury that will keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

Kawaboomga had shown promising form earlier in the season, finishing second to Kopek Des Bordes in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown and then winning a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse by a length and a half. His performance had earned him a spot as third favorite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at 11-2, and he was also priced at 12-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The news of his injury has sent shockwaves through the racing community, with many punters left disappointed and out of pocket. The injury is a significant blow to Mullins' chances at the Cheltenham Festival, and it remains to be seen how his other horses will perform in Kawaboomga's absence.

The current odds for the Turners Novices' Hurdle are:

• Final Demand: 6-4 favorite
• The New Lion: 5-2 second favorite

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle odds are:

• Kopek Des Bordes: odds-on favorite
• Other contenders: various prices

It is worth noting that Kawaboomga's injury is not the only setback for Mullins, as another of his top horses, Storm Heart, was not entered for the Festival, and Anzadam is also out for the season due to injury.

Despite the setback, Mullins remains optimistic about Kawaboomga's future, suggesting that he could be a contender for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase next season. A switch to novice chasing could be on the cards for Kawaboomga, providing all is well with his recovery from injury. For now, though, the focus will be on getting him back to full fitness and preparing him for a potential return to action in the autumn.

In the meantime, racing fans will have to look elsewhere for their Cheltenham Festival fix. The event is still set to be one of the most exciting and competitive in recent memory, with a host of top-class horses and trainers competing for glory. As always, the key to success will be finding the right balance between form, fitness, and luck, and it will be fascinating to see which horses emerge victorious.

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