The racehorse Michelle Mone bought for billionaire husband Doug Barrowman has been ruled out of his Christmas target.
Monbeg Genius, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, was the long time favourite for the £150,000 Coral Welsh Grand National run at Chepstow on December 27.
But he has picked up a foot abscess, according to the trainer, and is expected to be fit to race again until later in January. “He’s got an abscess so he won’t be ready in time, unfortunately,” said O’Neill.
“He did pick up a few cuts at Newbury, but it’s nothing to do with them, they’d all cleared up. If it’s not one thing, it’s another thing.
“It’s very annoying but when they are not right you can’t run them. He’ll be all right but it’s just the wrong time. Unfortunately I didn’t tell him he was running!”
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He added: “We might have a look at the Classic Chase at Warwick or the race at Lingfield (Fleur de Lys Chase). I’m not really thinking to be honest, I just want to get him back.”
Monbeg Genius, who runs in the name of Barrowman Racing, had been the 5-1 favourite for the 3m6f marathon, which carries a first prize of £85,000, the last big handicap chase of the year.
He was bought on his owner’s behalf for £80,000 at the Goffs UK November sale in 2020, the year of the Covid pandemic. He was reportedly purchased for Mone as a second wedding present for her husband and is viewed as a long-term Grand National prospect.
Glasgow-born Mone, 52, made her fortune in lingerie and was elevated to the House of Lords in 2015, taking the title Baroness Mone of Mayfair.
On Sunday she admitted she had lied to the press over her involvement in the awarding of a £200million contract to PPE Medpro, a company led by Barrowman, to supply PPE during the pandemic.
PPE Medpro is being investigated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Department of Health and Social Care has also issued breach of contract proceedings over a 2020 deal for the supply of protective gowns.
Mone and Barrowman have denied any wrongdoing. Mone told the BBC ’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, “I don’t honestly see there is a case to answer.”
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