Zemsky: suffered a setback and will not return until next season
PICTURE: Getty ImagesNo Punchestown for Foxhunter hero Zemsky
ZEMSKY, winner of the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham last month, will miss the Irish Racing Post-sponsored Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown on May 6.
The eight-year-old will be parading with the other 12 Irish-trained winners from Cheltenham at Fairyhouse on Sunday but will not be seen in competitive action until next season.
His trainer Ian Ferguson said: "Zemsky came out of his Cheltenham race okay but he has had a setback since and instead of running at Punchestown he will be going on his holidays."
The Punchestown race is the target for Cork All Star, whose career has been resurrected on the point-to-point and hunter chase circuit in Britain this season.
The winner of four bumpers - including the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2007 - and a hurdle race when trained by Jessica Harrington, Cork All Star had been retired due to knee problems but the nine-year-old is now with Joanna Quinlan in Newmarket.
Ridden by her son, Jack, Cork All Star has won two point-to-points and hunter chases at Huntingdon and Stratford. He bypassed the Cheltenham Festival with Punchestown in mind.
His owner Cillian Ryan's Swordlestown Stud sponsors the Grade 1 Cathal Ryan Memorial Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. The race, which is named after his father who used to own Cork All Star, will be run on the same day as the Champion Hunters Chase.
