Min out until at least Christmas after undergoing surgery on a hind leg

Seven-time Grade 1 winner Min has undergone surgery and will not be seen before Christmas, meaning a fourth successive John Durkan Chase in December is out of the question.

Min has won half of his 24 starts and became the first horse to win three John Durkans in a row at Punchestown last December when he emerged from the fog under Patrick Mullins to beat stablemate Tornado Flyer.

He was sent off 4-1 to defend his 2020 Ryanair Chase crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and was the pick of Paul Townend from a quartet of Willie Mullins-trained runners, but he jumped poorly and could not live with stablemate Allaho before eventually being pulled up.

Watch Min win the 2020 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival

Mullins told the Racing Post: "Min picked up an injury in his hind leg. We have operated on him and we'll have to see how he recovers from that operation before making any decisions on his future. You could see him out in the second-half of the season."

When asked whether retirement might be on the agenda, Mullins replied: "I really don't know and I'll have to have a chat with [owner] Rich [Ricci] to see what he wants to do. He obviously doesn't owe us anything and he's been a fantastic horse over the years but we'll see how he is and take it from there."

Min: won the 2020 Ryanair ChaseCredit: Dan Mullan (Getty Images)

Min has earned well over €1 million in prize-money. His best performance, according to Racing Post Ratings, was a 20-length defeat of Politologue in the 2019 Melling Chase at Aintree, where he posted an RPR of 178.

He chased home Altior in the 2016 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, and was also runner-up to the Nicky Henderson-trained superstar in the 2018 Champion Chase. On both occasions he was beaten by seven lengths.

Min is a 16-1 shot with bet365 to regain the Ryanair Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

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