Racing: Irish contenders Macs Joy and Harchibald are out of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, while there are also serious doubts over the particpation of Christmas Hurdle winner Jazz Messenger.
Macs Joy, last year's runner-up, had been due to work today, but was found to have suffered the setback that will keep him out of Tuesday's showpiece on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
"He didn't work this morning and he's a non-runner in the Champion Hurdle," said trainer Jessica Harrington. "He's pulled a muscle. It's the opposite side to what he had before."
Macs Joy was a best-priced 10-1 for the Champion on what would have been his third attempt at the race.
He had finished fifth to Hardy Eustace in 2005 before his fine effort in running Brave Inca to a length 12 months ago.
"He is perfectly sound, but not right," she added. Harrington now hopes to get the eight-year-old fit for next month's ACC Bank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in which he took his revenge on Brave Inca last April.
"I would imagine we would hopefully get him to Punchestown," she said.
Harchibald, runner-up to Hardy Eustace in the 2005, has been ruled out by handler Noel Meade because the ground does not suit him.
"I think I will only have one runner in the Champion Hurdle and that will be Iktitaf," said Meade. "Harchibald won't travel over as the ground is against him and it is going the same way with Jazz Messenger, who will go to Japan instead for the Grand Jump."
The news comes as another blow to Irish Festival hopes following the recent withdrawals of Cheltenham Gold Cup hopes In Compliance and War Or Attrition. PA