Mullins plays down Footpad injury

Horse Racing
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Willie Mullins is confident Footpad won’t be out of action for too long after picking up an injury at Naas on Saturday.

The Arkle Trophy hero was hoping to make a winning start to the new jumps season, having won each of his five outings last term.

However, he looked less than fluent after suffering an over-reach at the third fence and his run came to an unfortunate end at the final flight when he and Ruby Walsh went their separate ways.

Mullins confirmed his charge will need ‘a week or 10 days’ to fully recovery and doesn’t expect the injury to interfere with Footpad’s plans too much.

‘Footpad is fine.

Hopefully it’s just an over-reach.

He’s very sore.

He got a bang on the front of his leg, on his pastern, and he got an over-reach also,’ Mullins said.

‘It looks to be just a typical racing injury that will come right in a couple of weeks or less.

‘I think it must have happened early and he probably was just feeling it because he had schooled very well the day before.

‘Hopefully it’s just a blip and I don’t think it will interfere with his next run.

It might cost him a week or 10 days.’

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