Racing: Accordion Etoile is to be retired after failing to recapture his Grade One sparkle in recent seasons.
The nine-year-old finished fourth in the 2005 Champion Hurdle before going on to claim the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase the following year.
Limited to just three starts since, Accordion Etoile has been well out of the frame in two outings over obstacles as well as finishing sixth on the level at Leopardstown.
"We were hoping a trip to the racecourse might just fire him up a bit again as he hadn't been working very well at home," trainer Paul Nolan said today.
"He ran okay on the flat but he was pulled up at Cork last week and that told us he didn't want to do it any more.
"He's been a star for us and we will keep him here now. He had four or five different problems and it's a shame to retire him at nine.
"We wanted to end on a good note though, and he can now enjoy his retirement."