MONTELADO, twice successful at the Cheltenham Festival and record holder for the minimum trip there, is out of next month's Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
Co Waterford trainer Pat Flynn yesterday finally admitted defeat in his attempt to patch up the talented though injury prone nine year old which has only raced twice over hurdles in the past two years.
He could be out of action for a year," said Flynn. "I have been nursing his off fore tendon since last autumn, but Adrian Maguire told me he was feeling it when he ran fourth to Collier Bay at Leopardstown last month and sadly we have had to give up on Cheltenham for this year," the trainer explained.
Flynn will not now be represented at the Festival, his other Champion Hurdle entry Aries Girl having also been on the injury list and will be campaigned instead this year on the Flat.
Meanwhile, form book students will be stocking up on supplies of lamp oil as they seek solutions to the seven ultra competitive handicaps at the Festival, for which a total of 471 entries was announced yesterday.
The figure, though one down on the tally for the 1995 Festival, is nevertheless the second highest during the last eight years, reflecting the perennial appeal of the Festival's handicap races.
Entries for 16 of the 20 races due to be staged at the Cheltenham Festival, which runs from March 12th to 14th, have now been made.
The total number of entries for the 16 races is 1,079 compared with 969 in 1995, representing the highest figure during the last eight years. The Irish contingent is also at a peak, totalling 207 in contrast to 183 last year.
. Two former Martell Grand National winners and a Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup victor are among the 14 acceptors at the five day stage for Saturday's Greenalls Grand National Trial at Haydock Park.
Jodami heads the field with Aintree heroes Miinnehoma and Party Politics joined by Scottish Grand National winners Earth Summit and Willsford in the quest to land the extended three and a half mile marathon.
Only Party Politics, winner of this race on his way to Aintree glory in 1999 of the 14 acceptors, has yet to visit a racecourse this season.
