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French stayer set for indefinite absence.

Funny Kid  faces a spell on the sidelines after meeting with a setback when being prepared for All-Weather Championships Finals Day.

The big meeting at Lingfield on Good Friday was the scene of the Christophe Ferland-trained seven-year-old's finest moment to date, as he lifted the Marathon in 2018, beating Lord George a nose under Maxime Guyon.

Some excellent efforts have followed since then and after finishing second twice in fast-track qualifiers in the UK this season, Ferland's charge got his head in front nearer home over a mile and a half at Deauville in February, beating the Karl Burke-trained Kelly's Dino.

He was qualified for the defence of his crown, but would not have lined up even if the meeting had been able to go ahead as planned.

Ferland said: "Unfortunately he had an injury in preparation for the big day at Lingfield, so he is going back to the stud for now.

"We don't know yet when he will be back, we haven't a plan."

Like all of his colleagues, Ferland was delighted at the news racing will return in France on Monday, having been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic since March 17.

He said: "It's very good news and it is exciting to be going back racing. We have a couple of horses that look all right, so fingers crossed."