A Gordon Elliott-trained horse was prevented from running in America on Saturday due to an insect bite.
I Am Fortunata was scheduled to run in a maiden hurdle at the Iroquois Steeplechase meeting in Nashville, but was declared a non-runner shortly before the race after being bit by an insect.
The gelding landed a bumper on his debut in February 2022, bolting up by 12 lengths at Thurles, but has not won in any of his four runs since.
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Elliott revealed the news on social media, adding that the horse will remain in the United States.
The Meath trainer tweeted on Saturday evening: "Unfortunately our runner I AM FORTUNATA @TNSteeplechase meeting is now a non runner due to an insect bite. The horse is perfectly fine just a little infection and will stay in the United States. A long way to come but that’s racing and the main thing is that the horse is fine."
But there was joy for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at the Nashville meeting as they landed the $200,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes with Scaramanga.
Just two weeks after the conclusion of the Irish National Hunt season at Punchestown, the pair enjoyed big race success once again as Scaramanga came home three and three-quarter lengths clear of Snap Decision, with Scorpion's Revenge back in third.
The former Paul Nicholls-trained gelding finished fourth behind Langer Dan in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, with Saturday's success his first since joining Mullins a little under a year ago.
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