Connections of Boothill look for an alternative as Dublin Racing Festival showdown with El Fabiolo is scrapped

“We won’t be going to Leopardstown with El Fabiolo not coming over for the rearranged Clarence House,” Fry stated. They had always planned to attend the Game Spirit and that is where their focus remains. While it is likely they will go to the Game Spirit, they will wait to see if there are any other entries against Jonbon in the Clarence House.

Boothill had a successful novice chase campaign last season. He won his first two starts over fences and finished second to Jonbon in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. He then won the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase. After winning back-to-back handicap chases at Ascot, he fell in the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase at Kempton in his last outing. This season, Boothill won the Haldon Gold Cup and a handicap chase at Newbury, and he finished third in the Desert Orchid. Tizzard plans to enter him again and notes that there may be more runners now that El Fabiolo isn’t coming.

Elixir De Nutz has had a successful season, with the Haldon Gold Cup as his main target, which he won. He also won well at Newbury. He prefers slightly better ground than what he encountered at Kempton, but he still ran well.

Overall, plans for the horses will be determined by their upcoming races, and retirement is not ruled out for the popular veteran.