Retirement on the cards for Abacadabras

Retirement is looming for multiple Grade-One winning-hurdler Abacadabras after he was pulled up quickly in the 2m2f hurdle at Punchestown today.

Abacadabras went off an easy-to-back 4/6 favourite, but raced in third and dropped to fourth three out where he wasn't fluent. Jack Kennedy soon pulled him up and reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount sustained an injury.

Gordon Elliott said: “He pulled up quick and he's fairly lame in front on his two legs and it doesn't look great to be honest.

“He'll come home and he'll have a home in Cullentra for as long as he lives. Hopefully, he will be able to have a happy retirement, please God.

“He's been a great horse.

When it was put to him that he was unlikely to be seen back on a racecourse, he added:- “I don't think so — no.

"He had a few niggly problems last year and something totally different there today.

"Look he has been a great servant, he won four Grade Ones, he'll have a happy retirement all being well."

When asked about the highlight of his career, Elliott replied: "Obviously, winning in Aintree was a real good performance (Grade One Betway Aintree Hurdle in April last year).

"He has had his fair share of problems over the last couple of years and probably wasn't what he was, but he was a brilliant servant and we were very, very lucky to have him."

Abacadabras won six of his 20 races and earned in excess of €400,000.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson