Willie Mullins leading Champion Hurdle hope Klassical Dream has not looked the same horse on his two outings this season and after his disappointing run over Christmas at Leopardstown Mullins has reported him coming back as sore.
Last season the five year old was unstoppable winning all four of his contests will relative ease picking up three Grade Ones as a novice at Leopardstown, Cheltenham in the Supreme Novices hurdle and finally at the Punchestown festival.
He came back this season as the Champion Hurdle favourite and unfortunately was not as impressive as his previous season on return when third in the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle.
He tried to put that right at Leopardstown in the Grade One Matherson Hurdle but did not travel like the same horse as last season and ultimately tailed off after a poor jump mid way through the race and came home last of the five runners.
From the 4/1 favourite for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham he is now as big as 10/1 with some high street firms with Epatante for Nicky Henderson landing the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton with ease on Boxing Day and flying straight to the top of the betting.
(Credit Racing Post) Willie Mullins said: "Klassical Dream was a bit sore behind this morning after dragging his hind legs through the fourth flight. Otherwise he seems fine. We haven't made a definite plan for him yet."
"I don't know how he got over it. He seems fine - but I'd imagine he's going to be very stiff in the morning with his hips or pelvis, or whatever"
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 29, 2019
Read what Willie Mullins had to say about Klassical Dream's defeat at Leopardstown today >>> https://t.co/KgwgtUcZBe pic.twitter.com/CSbMPIyBg4