White Birch ruled out of Irish Champion Stakes and will miss the rest of the season with injury

George Murphy has revealed White Birch will miss the remainder of the season after picking up an injury to his hock. 

The Tattersalls Gold Cup winner, unbeaten in three starts this year, was being aimed at next week's Irish Champion Stakes.

"Unfortunately it looks like White Birch will miss the rest of the season," said Murphy, son of trainer John. 

"He strained a near hock and the advice is he will be off for three to four weeks which won’t give us time to get back going for his plan for the rest of the season. We’re looking forward to him returning to the track next season."

The four-year-old grey had been 6-1 third favourite for the Royal Bahrain-backed Irish Champion at Leopardstown on September 14, with only Economics and Auguste Rodin in front of him in the ante-post betting.

He had been a revelation this season and finished three lengths clear of Auguste Rodin on his most recent start in May at the Curragh, earning a Racing Post Rating of 125. There have been a couple of aborted starts since then. 

He had been due to contest the Eclipse at Sandown but was ruled out due to his bloods not being 100 per cent right, while connections opted to miss last month’s Juddmonte International as they felt it was coming a bit quick for their stable star as he built back up to full fitness.

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Leopardstown, September 14)

Paddy Power: 13-8 Economics, 7-2 Auguste Rodin, 6 Los Angeles, 7 Opera Singer, 14 Al Riffa, Ghostwriter, 16 Luxembourg, Shin Emperor, 20 bar

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